“It was mostly a very solid file that finally decided the French Rugby Federation. In Nice, rugby has a soul, a history, and that counted a lot in the choice of the governing bodies. We are all very happy about this surprise promotion that we are preparing for from today to give ourselves every chance to perform well there,” said Paul Henri Safayan, the club’s marketing and communication manager, who is overjoyed. The text message he had just sent to his friends and the press was probably one of the most pleasant ones he had to type on his mobile this year.
Christophe Moni, the new coach trained in the RRC Nice style, sees this promotion as the icing on a Niçois cake to which he intended to add delicious flavors in the tough Federal 2. It will eventually be meetings with much more tenacious opponents waiting for the new Nice promos, on tiptoes ready to pounce on them at any opportunity. They’ll need to go play in Var territory against La Seyne, in the stronghold of Châteaurenard, or at Lunel in this Federal 1, which includes prestigious clubs like Graulhet, Périgueux, or Lourdes. But no miracles for the Azuréen rugby players; they will need to work harder and stronger to compete with teams of another level.
Thus, Nice rugby offers itself a great gift before the departure for holidays that will be much more pleasant and almost conducive to imagining projects that would one day bring high-level rugby back to the edges of the Var. But the Top 14 remains a sweet dream while Federal 1 is tomorrow!
There is no doubt that Balda’s and Buchet’s proteges will be able to meet a challenge that is just there, within their reach like a fruit that was still forbidden to them…yesterday.
Some articles retracing the 2006/2007 season:
– Nice-Vienne: Nice rugby again in the final phase
– Christophe Moni, new coach of Nice Rugby Côte d’Azur
– Football and rugby unite in Nice
