At the end of a thrilling match, Stade Niçois won 39 to 30 against Narbonne in the National final. They will play in Pro D2 next season.
Under a scorching sun, Stade Niçois faced Narbonne in Chambéry for the National final. The winner would be crowned national champion of France and would advance to the Pro D2 championship. 700 fans from Nice had traveled to support the players, dressed all in red, making their voices heard. Despite this support, it was Narbonne who struck first in the match, opening the score with a penalty. But Nice responded three minutes later and leveled the score.
The level of play was high at the start of the match, and after fifteen minutes, the Nice team scored the first try of the game. As they did against Suresnes, the forward pack proved strong at 5 meters from the line, and Sione scored the try. This is when the match heated up with a try from Charlat to give Nice a larger lead. But Narbonne responded by scoring two tries to draw level. Just before the break, Narbonne equalized, 17 to 17 at halftime.
An Electrifying Second Half
As the teams returned from the locker rooms, Nice came back with the best intentions and scored their third try, which was not converted. It was at this point that Nice experienced a setback, conceding 13 points. With 10 minutes left in the match, Nice was trailing 30 to 22. However, thanks to Narbonne’s indiscipline, Nice gained a lineout within five meters. They scored a fourth try, bringing them within two points. The match then entered a tense finish, marked by pressure.
Both teams committed knock-ons and exposed themselves to penalties. Ultimately, it was Nice who won a penalty five meters from the line. Mathis Viard didn’t hesitate and put Stade Niçois ahead. A final try sealed the victory for Nice. For the first time in their history, Nice will play in Pro D2, triumphing 39 to 30. This success led to scenes of joy and a pitch invasion by the Nice supporters.
