A heavy defeat followed by a resounding home success, Nissa Rugby’s return to Pro D2 has been eventful at the start of the season. For the third round, the Nice side will travel to Brive, a benchmark club in Pro D2. An opportunity to confirm the progress shown last weekend both technically and collectively.
After a failed return to Pro D2 in the first round against Biarritz, Nissa Rugby bounced back at home last weekend against Béziers, winning 43-6. With six tries scored and none conceded, Gareth Baber’s men secured the offensive bonus and built up confidence before the third round.
This weekend, it is therefore at Brive, against one of Pro D2’s top teams, that the Nice side will attempt to pull off a performance. Sixth in Pro D2 last season and credible candidates for promotion to the Top 14 this season, Brive are on two consecutive wins against Valence Romans and Agen.
Unbeaten at home since October 2025, Brive seem untouchable on their own ground, but for Jamie Cudmore, assistant coach of Nissa Rugby’s forwards, there’s no question of traveling to Brive as tourists: « Of course the objective is victory, we’re not just playing to come and get through the moment. To drive ten hours to Brive without looking for a win, for me that’s unthinkable. »
The same view is held by Nice flanker Enzo Labadie: « me, this story of home invincibility motivates me. When I played at Anglet we faced a team unbeaten at home for two years, with a somewhat changed squad too, and it transcended us. »
Set piece at the centre of debate
It was on scrums and lineouts that Nice mainly corrected course between the first and second round of Pro D2. Guilty of numerous technical approximations against Biarritz, Nice’s forwards had been far more incisive on these phases of play against Béziers, a decisive area of play for Jamie Cudmore: « set piece is the foundation of rugby. If we’re upfront, keeping the ball, building phases of play and putting pressure on the opposition, then normally we can hope for something. »
After an eventful summer both off the field and in the transfer market, Nice’s coaching staff has numerous options on the pitch. With a squad that is likely to be changed compared to the previous two rounds, some players could secure a place in Nice’s fifteen for this match. This is the case for fly-half Boris Goutard who is making his first appearance with Nissa Rugby: « obviously a lot of excitement for me, especially as we’re traveling to a major Pro D2 side, it will be a fine personal and collective challenge. »
See you this Friday 11 September at 19:30 at the Amédée-Domenech Stadium in Brive for the third round of the Pro D2 championship.
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