Mid-week, Villa Masséna, on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, hosted the official ceremony in honor of Nissa Rugby, promoted to Pro D2, the second tier of French professional rugby, at the end of the 2025-2026 season. Players, staff, elected officials and supporters gathered there to celebrate a victory snatched last Sunday in front of more than 3,000 spectators. An evening where words were strong and commitments concrete.
A city behind its club
Eric Ciotti, mayor of Nice, opened the evening with undisguised emotion. “I was thrown into the air by the president, almost crushed.” Then the mayor became serious again: “from the bottom of my heart, thank you and congratulations. You are rebuilding an exceptional club for our city.” The elected official praised the thousand young people trained each year within the amateur club. “This club is both an exceptional professional team but it is also a thousand kids who throughout the year are followed, supported, trained.”
On the financial front, the mayor himself cited the support of the Alpes-Maritimes department: “extremely important aid from the department, 600,000 euros, it is extremely important, before concluding that there is no city and no department that, combined, provide as much financial aid to a club, including in Top 14.” In exchange for this financial commitment, Eric Ciotti set a course for Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, president of Nissa Rugby: “you promised me, you have to deliver: that we get to Top 14 very soon.”
Taking the floor in turn, Charles-Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, confirmed the commitment without specifying amounts. “We will be there, we were in 2024, we maintained in 2025.” He recalled that the relegation had been for him “an immeasurable disappointment,” and praised the club’s new face: “you arrived with a family, with sponsors, with financial partners.” The department president ended his speech with a direct promise: “count on me as department president, count on Eric Ciotti who is also finance commission president at the department to advocate and ensure that the funds arrive.”
Stade des Arboras: Eric Ciotti confirms project progress
Regarding the stadium, the mayor announced that the procedure for the new Arboras stadium has officially been launched: “what we lost that was pointless for two weeks, we will build for entire generations. I commit to this tonight.” The department president agrees. “The department will be alongside the mayor to see how we can help.”
The department president concluded his remarks by invoking the memory of great figures in Nice rugby. He cited Daniel Herrero, Éric Buchet and Jeff Tordo, captain of the France XV, all from the heyday of RRC Nice in the 1980s. “Names that still ring in my ears. Tonight I think we are rebuilding that era.”
Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, president of Nissa Rugby, takes the floor in turn. His voice is hoarse. “We have celebrated a lot these past nights.” He paid tribute to his players. Men who gave up everything to join a third division project. Some came from Top 14, from international selections. “They took the risk, they took the madness of joining this beautiful project. You won on the field the right to compete on the Promenade next year.”
On the stadium, the manager doesn’t mince words. “For two years I’ve been hearing there will be a stadium. Tonight, it sounds very different from other times.” Before concluding, the club president asked the room to applaud Martin Freytes, a historic figure at the club who is retiring. A warm tribute befitting the quality of the 34-year-old Argentine second row, who arrived on the Côte d’Azur six years earlier.
Sébastien has been a Nissa Rugby supporter for many years. Present at the ceremony, he lived through the first promotion, then the relegation that followed. “It was a small stone in a building that is being constructed.” Tonight he sees the difference. “There are many more people than two years ago. The rugby atmosphere is taking hold more and more in Nice.” A promotion that will remain etched in the memories of Nissa Rugby supporters. Top 14 will have to wait a little longer.
Adama Sanogo
