The future of Nissa Rugby in Pro D2 remains suspended pending an appeal procedure scheduled for early August. Between the players’ open letter, the City of Nice’s response and Éric Ciotti’s statements, each party is defending its position while time is running out to gather the financial guarantees required by the Rugby Regulatory Authority.
Two months after their promotion secured on the field against Mont-de-Marsan, Nissa Rugby is now playing another match. This time, the battle is taking place on the financial front. Having failed to present the guarantees requested by the Rugby Regulatory Authority (A2R), the club was administratively relegated despite its sporting promotion to Pro D2.
An appeal procedure is now to be examined Tuesday, August 4 or Wednesday, August 5. This timeline gives the various parties a few days to try to find a solution.
In this context, the players have published an open letter to alert people to the consequences of failure. The group recalls that promotion represents the result of an entire season of work and believes that the commitments made around the project should not disappear with political changes.
In their letter, the players also mention the human consequences of a possible relegation: “Today, some could find themselves without a contract, without a sporting project and sometimes without employment, not because of their performances, but because the financial conditions promised would no longer be met.”
The rugby players are calling on those in charge to find a solution and are asking for measures to preserve the club. Beyond the professional squad, the letter highlights the possible repercussions for employees, members, volunteers, partners and families. “Today, we are afraid. Afraid that in a few days, everything will stop. Afraid of having to tell our families that we have to leave, sometimes urgently, sometimes without knowing where we will play tomorrow,” they explain.
The municipality defends its financial support and calls for a revised budget
Faced with this mobilization, the City of Nice affirms that it has presented a plan designed to prevent the club’s relegation while ensuring sustainable development.
The municipality states it has devoted more than 3.5 million euros to Nissa Rugby this season in subsidies and infrastructure investments. By including all local authorities, with the exception of the Region, public support would reach nearly 4.5 million euros.
For next season, the city proposes to maintain this level of support, while reminding that it has reached the ceiling authorized by the Sports Code. The municipality therefore rules out any further increase in order to preserve balance with the other Nice clubs.
The project also provides for the construction, starting in September 2027, of a permanent stand with 1,400 seats dedicated to hospitality. This facility should allow the club to develop new revenue streams and strengthen its economic model. The city presents this achievement as the first stage of a stadium project that could evolve if Nissa Rugby becomes permanently established in Pro D2 and eventually in the Top 14.
Regarding the deficit estimated by the club at 1.2 million euros linked to the absence of a hospitality stand, the municipality believes that this loss has already been offset this season by an increase of 1,146,000 euros in subsidies. The municipality also recalls that the Region would not have paid the 70,000 euros promised to the company operating the club.
The City finally believes that the budget presented is not suitable for a first season in Pro D2. The projected players’ wage bill would increase by 88%, rising from 2 million to 3.8 million euros, a level higher than that of several championship teams.
Éric Ciotti shifts responsibility to the leaders
When asked by ICI Azur, the mayor of Nice believes that the local authority has reached the limit of its financial effort. “We have gone to the maximum effort we can make. We are ready to commit 3.5 million euros for Nissa Rugby, which is a considerable sum.”
Éric Ciotti also recalls the city’s commitment to finance the future hospitality stand, valued at 10 million euros. The mayor is now calling on the club’s leaders and investors to revise the club’s financial project: “We now expect from the shareholder and the club president a responsible position: first a commitment and to build a responsible budget, because behind it there is a lot of public money for which I am accountable and I will not do anything reckless.”
The official also targets the wage policy implemented this season: “There is an effort to be made on certain excessive salaries in the club. They need to be looked at to find a more reasonable budget.”
According to the latest estimates, despite a contribution of 2.5 million euros from the shareholder, nearly 2 million euros would still be missing to meet the A2R’s financial requirements.
The appeal hearing scheduled for early next week will now determine whether Nissa Rugby will be able to keep its place in Pro D2. In the event of confirmation of administrative relegation, Mont-de-Marsan would take the vacant spot in the championship.
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