With a kickoff scheduled for September 12, the Federal 1 championship will feel like an obstacle course for the Nice rugby players, who will have to work hard to hope to secure a playoff spot and thus avoid the difficult play-down challenge. But before that, they’ll have to battle against some of the national oval elites, such as Montauban, a former Top 14 member from the 2009-2010 season, Graulhet, last year’s Federal 1 quarter-finalist, and also Grasse and La Seyne for colorful derbies. In short, a very busy schedule for the men under the coaching trio of Boutet-Johnson-Szezur.
Behind the scenes, Paul White has confirmed that he will indeed serve as President of the SASP, assisted by two Deputy Presidents, Mark Thomas and especially Jean-François Tordo, a former RRC Nice player and French international returning to the club for the occasion. Marc-André Domergue, also a former RRC Nice player and previously an osteopath at RC Toulon, will take on the role of General Manager, while Julien Schramm has decided to step back from his duties due to professional commitments.
The Nice team will need a studious summer before embarking on a path filled with challenges, hoping that the rugby gods will be more favorable this year for the Côte d’Azur players on the tumultuous road to Pro D2.
Poule 2 of Federal 1
– SC Blagnac
– AS Béziers Hérault
– RC Châteaurenard
– US Seynoise
– RO Grasse
– Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur
– RC Aubenas
– US Romans
– SC Graulhet
– AS Vauréenne
– Avenir Valencien
– US Montauban
