At the end of an animated and exciting match, Nissa Rugby confirms its status as the league leader and secures its second consecutive victory against SO Chambéry Rugby (32-34). A victory, by a hair’s breadth, that is precious for the Maralpins, winning a crucial duel in the race for promotion to Pro D2.
At the kickoff of this top-of-the-table clash, only five points separated these two teams vying for promotion to the second division at the end of the season. An extremely tight ranking, where Nissa Rugby, thanks to its home victory against Niort (24-17) two weeks ago, took the lead in the championship. The Savoyard club, meanwhile, occupied fifth place, buoyed by an excellent dynamic of three victories in three matches against serious competitors for promotion to Pro D2, Narbonne (15-20) and Albi (13-0), currently third and second in Nationale. A great series that the Maralpins came to interrupt tonight.
Animated start to the match between Maralpins and Chambériens
In a cool and humid atmosphere, the start of the match is animated, both teams are playing aggressively and pushing forward.
Following a foul committed by the Maralpine defense, the referee awards a penalty to Chambéry (2nd minute). Nissa Rugby receives a yellow card on this action and is reduced to fourteen players for the next ten minutes. Chambéry converts their penalty, 3-0.
Nissa Rugby responds and attempts to break through the Savoyard defense. In the 9th minute, during a play, the referee whistles a penalty for the Maralpins. Due to a forward elbow by their flanker Marc Essoh, Chambéry is also reduced to fourteen players. In front of the posts, Jean-Pascal Barraque remains unfazed and equalizes, 3-3. The Azuréens catch up on the scoreboard.
The plays continue to flow for both teams, Chambéry attempts to regain the lead on the scoreboard. During a collective play, the Savoyards push forward, progress into the final 40 meters of the Maralpins and score a try (11th minute) that is not converted, 8-3.
The match heats up, Nissa Rugby tries to respond again but the attempts are stopped by Chambériens well-grouped in defense. The Azuréens eventually find the breakthrough and score a try (21st minute) once again converted by Jean-Pascal Barraque, taking the lead again, 8-10.
Chambéry sees red, Nissa Rugby accelerates
At the half-hour mark, the match tightens. The two teams engage in a tough physical battle and defensive plays continue to unfold. Due to a foul by Chambéry’s defense, the Maralpins are awarded a penalty (34th minute) by the referee. Jean-Pascal Barraque steps up and the ball goes through the posts, 8-13.
The game becomes even more tense and just before halftime, at the 36th minute during a play deemed dangerous again, Marc Essoh, who was already shown a yellow card earlier in the game, is penalized with a red card. Chambéry will finish the match with fourteen players against fifteen.
On a rolling ball at the culmination of a collective play, Guillaume Rouet finds the gap in Chambéry’s defense and scores the try (42nd minute). Jean-Pascal Barraque converts his attempt in front of the posts, 8-20. The Maralpins take the advantage in this match right before the referee signals the end of the first half.
The penalty try that turns everything around for Chambéry
At the beginning of the second half, Chambériens, outnumbered since the 36th minute, try to respond to level the score. On a turnover, at the end of a rapid action in Chambéry’s defense, Guillaume Rouet capitalizes by finding the gap in the opposing defense and touches the ball down behind the try line (40th minute). The try is converted by Jean-Pascal Barraque, 8-27.
The Maralpins take a commanding lead and think they have done the hardest part, but Chambéry hasn’t had its last word. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Savoyard club advances forward, occupying the last 30 meters of the Azuréens. The Maralpine defense initially manages to repel the attempts, but on a defensive play deemed dangerous again, their captain Thibaud Rey is shown a yellow card and must leave his teammates to play fourteen against fourteen (48th minute).
Chambéry insists and multiplies offensive plays. After four advantages given by the referee on a new forward by the Azuréens defense, the referee ends up awarding a penalty try to the Chambériens (50th minute), 15-27.
The Maralpins try to move forward again. In the 52nd minute, Chambéry’s defense commits a foul, and the referee awards a penalty in favor of Nissa Rugby. 30 meters from the posts, Jean-Pascal Barraque steps up but misses his attempt.
Nissa Rugby gets scared but achieves a valuable victory
Chambéry takes advantage of the temporary numerical parity, fourteen against fourteen, and pushes forward to level the score.
10 meters from the Maralpine try line, the Chambériens on a rolling ball progress and score a try in the 53rd minute, not converted, but which allows them to close the gap (25-27).
The plays continue to unfold in the Nice camp. In the 58th minute, due to a new foul by the Nice defense, Fabio Gonzalez is shown a yellow card. Nissa Rugby is now reduced to thirteen players against fourteen. A few moments later, in the 60th minute, the Maralpins see the return of their captain, Thibaud Rey, who was temporarily excluded a few minutes earlier, and return to fourteen players.
In the 69th minute, on a line-out 10 meters from the Chambéry try line, after a beautiful collective movement, the Maralpins score a try, which is converted a few seconds later by Jean-Pascal Barraque, 25-34.
Nissa Rugby continues the phases of play and occupies the last 40 meters of Chambéry, thinking then to have locked the score and their victory.
In the last minutes of the match, scrums and plays keep coming for the Savoyard club. On a foul committed by the Maralpine defense, the referee awards a scrum to Chambéry 5 meters from the try line. A final scare for Nissa Rugby. The Azuréens’ defense, solid and well-grouped, initially manages to repel the Chambéry attempts, but the Savoyard club finds the breach and scores its ultimate try at the very end of the match (32-34).
The referee blows the final whistle, Nissa Rugby went through several scares but wins the match (32-34). The team of Gareth Baber confirms their place as the league leader with an important victory against a contender for promotion to Pro D2.
Next match for the Maralpins, Friday, February 21, 2026, at home against Rouen Normandie.
