The leaders of OGC Nice have decided to provide financial and logistical support to Nice rugby in order to help RNCA become a stronghold of French rugby once again.
Nice rugby has new ambitions and is currently part of a project designed to restore its status as a rugby powerhouse in France in the coming years. The Rugby Nice Cรดte d’Azur Universitรฉ Racing (RNCAUR), competing in Fรฉdรฉrale 2 (the fourth national division), is driving this ambitious project with the arrival of new partners from professional sports.
Aware of the current rise of rugby in our country, the leaders of OGC Nice have indeed decided to support Nice rugby both financially and structurally so that football is no longer the sole sport driving the momentum created in our city by the success of “Le Gym.”
A group of investors led by Gilbert Stellardo is ready to embark on the rugby adventure to help Nice rugby meet its new ambitions. For the upcoming season, this new pool of investors will enable RNCA to have an additional 350,000 Euros in resources. “We aim to move up to Fรฉdรฉrale 1 this season. In the long term, within three, five years, maybe more, we want Nice to become the leading club of the region, at least making it to Pro-D2,” declares Gilbert Stellardo.
“It is crucial to interest the local teams in the fate of the RNCA. To unite around the training of young people to build a solid structure,” states the majority shareholder of OGCN. Christian Baldacchino, president of Nice Rugby, and Julien Schramm, former senior reporter at L’Equipe and who will be the “field project manager” for RNCA, emphasize that the first team will be “the driving force of the club, with its 540 licensees.” The financial effort that is being undertaken will not only concern the first team but will include the whole club’s training system.
The aim is for rugby in Nice to have deep roots that can grow over the years. A highly ambitious overall project that the men of the new coach Olivier Achaintre (formerly of Albi) will have to meet on the field, with a team of young and ambitious players, some on the verge of professional rugby, supported by several experienced players including Franck Alazet, who returns to Nice after captaining Toulon last season in the Top 14. The first league match is on September 17th in Martigues.
Source: [www.ogcnice.com](https://www.ogcnice.com)
