Nissa Rugby hosted Stado Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby for the last match of the year in the Nationale. The two teams had very different stakes. The statistics predicted an unbalanced confrontation. A trend that was observed on the field (50-3).
The context of the match provided a clear reading. Nissa Rugby was looking to consolidate its place in the top half of the standings. Stado Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby hoped to end a negative streak that had lasted for several weeks. Eight consecutive defeats accompanied the trip to Nice. The last victory for Tarbes dated back to September 26, 2025, against Bourgoin.
The numerical data placed Nice in a favorable position. Four home victories. Four away wins. A solid presence in the top 5. This consistency contrasted with the journey of Stado Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby. Two home victories, none away, and a last place in the championship. A ranking that reflects a complicated 2025-2026 season.
The offensive statistics confirmed this gap. Nissa Rugby recorded 199 points scored away compared to 143 at home. This peculiarity demonstrated their ability to produce play in all contexts. Tarbes remained in difficulty. A hundred and five points scored at home. Eighty-four away. The Tarbes attack line struggled to find sustainable solutions.
Nissa Rugby formidable in attack
The course of the match followed this statistical logic. With nineteen tries scored at home for Nissa Rugby, Gareth Barber’s men scored quickly, from the fourth minute through flanker Arthur Vignolles. Owen Williams easily secured the conversion.
Discipline also influenced the encounter. The Nice scrum-half, Guillaume Rouet, quickly received a yellow card. A penalty that kept Tarbes in the match. Especially since the visitors responded with Mathieu Berbizier, who kicked a penalty in the 21st minute, closing the gap (7-3). This action remained isolated. The Azuréens quickly regained control of the match once back to XV against XV. Jean-Pascal Barraque, starting at the center this evening, scored a try in the 23rd minute. He was followed by Clément Egiziano two minutes later. Fellow winger from Maralpin, Henry Purdy, then added a new try in the 33rd minute, bringing the score to (22-3) at halftime.
The second half confirmed the trend. The left prop, Hayden Thompson-Stringer, scored a try immediately upon resumption, finally converted by Owen Williams, who had missed the previous three attempts. The match was already over, but Nissa Rugby maintained constant pressure. Baptiste Lafond, just brought into the game, grounded the sixth try for the home side in the 55th minute, before Hugo Sarrasin imitated him by adding a new try in the 61st minute. Added to this Owen Williams’ rediscovered precision in front of the posts, and the score continued to climb inexorably (43-3).
Stado Tarbes Pyrénées was completely overwhelmed, as in the first leg, as shown by the yellow card received by Spike Salman. The penalties were piling up. Leo Chauvin took advantage to score the last try of the evening in the 70th minute. The score would not change further. Nissa Rugby won (50-3) on home soil, inflicting the biggest defeat of the season on Tarbes.
The forecast made before the match was easily confirmed tonight. The home resilience of Nice and the offensive regularity made a significant difference. Stado Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby leaves the Alpes-Maritimes in last place in the Nationale standings, while Nissa Rugby climbs temporarily onto the podium thanks to this bonus-point victory.
Now Nissa Rugby can enjoy a well-deserved month of rest before returning to the field in 2026. For their return, Nice will host CA Périgueux for a match that will count in the battle at the top of the standings. The date is set for Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 6 pm.
