As mentioned in our previous article, the Nice rugby arena is preparing behind the scenes for a new season in Fédérale 1. Although the association has regained some tranquility, questions remain unanswered about the future management of the first team and the potential new SASP that might emerge within Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur. Will there be a successful attempt on the Arboras front in the coming hours?
Emotions seem to have settled a bit after the election of the club’s new board of directors, which confirmed Christian Baldacchino as president of the association and saw the arrival of Philippe Buchet and Michel Maiffret as, respectively, sports manager and head of external relations. However, a sustainable solution must still be found for the management and development of the professional structure. Certainly, the work done by the association following the disappearance of the quirky British-flavored SASP has been highly rigorous, but it’s challenging to envision a long-term continuation of this situation with a goal that remains to gain access to the Pro D2 tier.
To achieve this, there is no miracle solution; one must find potential investors willing to embark on a new adventure, this time with a real action plan and financial forecasts meeting the increasingly demanding requirements both in sports and economic terms. On the field, the task will not be easy with competitors possibly including Saint-Etienne, Bourg en Bresse, Montauban, Marseille, Castanet, La Seyne, Romans, Chateaurenard, Chambéry, or even Nîmes. Financially, one million euros seems to be the standard value in Fédérale 1, but significant amounts will need to be invested in case of promotion to Pro D2, where budgets have tended to soar in recent seasons, with average budgets ranging between 4 and 5 million euros.
Solutions seem to be presenting themselves to the club in recent days with various proposals coming from both within and outside the club. Although the files are currently kept from prying eyes, it is whispered that a project, even supported by a local investor, seems to have all the necessary qualities to appeal to both the club leaders and the municipality. Let’s give it time, and it wouldn’t be surprising if an announcement is made in the coming days, bringing good surprises for the Nice rugby team. For now, caution is advised, and the dramatic episode involving Stade Français and the FACEM doesn’t inspire confidence otherwise.
But, once the new economic solution is found, a new team and equally new management will need to be put in place to restart on what we hope are good foundations that will pave the way for a return, in the more or less near future, of Nice rugby to the elite of French rugby. Sports management, marketing, communication, press relations, and other external relations will be areas where it will be crucial to design effectively with individuals suited for these various needs. Not everyone can be or even wants to be a manager! The new SASP will need to reflect a club and rugby school that are envied in the French rugby scene, as evidenced by the entry next year of the junior Crabos and Reichel teams into the elite A championship. This confirms that the foundational work is of high quality and highly regarded (the rugby school and youth teams) by the federal bodies that have examined and validated the dossier.
Even though the unpredictable bounce of the ball leads to greater caution, it seems the Nice rugby scene is once again running smoothly, dreaming of paradise after just narrowly escaping disaster!
