The hardest part begins for Rugby Nice Cรดte d’Azur. The key to success in the Fรฉdรฉrale 1 rugby championship is to win all home matches. A total home victory ensures survival. A defeat necessitates securing a victory away. After the first round, only Romans sur Isรจre, promoted to the professional rugby second tier like Nice, managed to win away in Beaurepaire. The RNCA had the tough task of facing La Seyne. At home, the Varois won 18 to 6. The team from the Cรดte d’Azur was close to earning a bonus point, but some mistakes prevented it.
On Sunday, at Stade des Arboras, Christophe Moni’s men will host the Ardรจche team of Aubenas. Aubenas won their first home match against Rumilly 19 to 9. They will travel to the Alpes Maritimes without pressure, hoping to scrape a few points and possibly all four from a victory. This team has experience in the Fรฉdรฉrale 1 league jousts (French champion in 1999) with a recent past one level above in the pro D2 with four seasons from 1999 to 2003 and not far from the top 16, with a 5th place in 2000 and 4th in 2001. The club, presided over by Pierre Bonhomme and coached by Wilfrid Maccari and Grรฉgory Tournayre, notably trained international player Rรฉmy Martin. The tall blond and third line player from Stade Franรงais played in his hometown from 1996 to 2000.
For this match, Rugby Club Aubenas Vals will be without fly-half Chazel, who injured his shoulder last Sunday against Rumilly. Chichรฉ, Rolland, and Ferrero, returning from injuries, will start in the reserve team.
Christophe Moni will have to forgo Guiran, Pavlov, Schmidt, and Dejardin. Rudi Dames remains uncertain. Nice will very much need their South African kicker to resist the players coming from the foothills of the Auvergne. They will also need a Stade des Arboras fully behind the RNCA cause, cheering for the Cรดte d’Azur XV.
Regulations:
Scoring points:
Victory: 4 points
Draw: 2 points
Defeat: 0 points
Offensive bonus: +1 point to the team that scores 3 more tries than their opponent.
Defensive bonus: +1 point to the losing team with a score difference of less than 8 points.
First phase:
The 48 F1 teams are divided into 6 groups of 8 (geographically). The top 4 from each group (24 clubs) will compete for the Jean Prat trophy. The bottom 4 from each group will compete in the playdowns.
Jean Prat Trophy: (playoffs)
The 24 qualified teams will be divided into 6 groups of 4, including 1 first from a group, 1 second, 1 third, and 1 fourth.
The points from the group of 8 are not retained, and any sanctions from the first phase are not cumulative, but if applicable, suspension matches must be served.
The top 4 from each group are directly qualified for the quarter-finals in the final bracket.
The second and third-placed teams from the groups – 8 teams – will play qualification playoffs for the quarters.
The quarters and semi-finals will be played as home and away matches.
The winners of the semi-finals will be promoted to Pro D2.
The playdowns
6 groups of 4 non-geographical. Each team keeps the points earned during the first phase.
The bottom 2 from each group – 12 clubs – descend to Fรฉdรฉrale 2.
The top 2 compete in the knockout phase – playoff, quarter-final, semi-final, final.
