The Nationale final promised a high-tension duel between Nissa Rugby and RC Narbonnais. In an electric atmosphere, the Nice players had nevertheless started the match on the right foot before collapsing in the final minutes. Final score: 23-20 for Narbonne, the new French champions.
From kick-off, the pressure of a final was palpable. Nissa Rugby secured the first possession and immediately imposed their rhythm. The first Nice exit brought the Azuréens into Narbonne’s 40-meter zone, but the Aude defense responded well.
Narbonne quickly showed their intentions with a penalty and especially a series of unafraid attacks, played without fear or hesitation. The crowd, extremely noisy and involved, pushed behind every action.
After a loose ball by Léon Chauvin, the Nice players recovered valuable possession in the opposing 22-meter zone and came close to opening the scoring. A few minutes later, Nice finally found the gap through David Odiete to score the first try of the match and take a seven-point lead.
The debate became increasingly tense. Nice attempted to maintain their occupation and power strategy, while Narbonne responded with quick and ambitious ball circulation. But each time the ball crossed into Nice’s 15-meter zone, the Azuréen defense proved extremely reactive.
A scrum won by Nice allowed the Côte d’Azur team to add three more points: 10-0 for Nissa Rugby after twenty minutes.
Despite this deficit, Narbonne continued to impress with their boldness and the Narbonne players managed to get close to the Nice line in situations that seemed compromised.
Then came the match’s defining moment before halftime. Tyler Morgan scored an exceptional try after a lightning-fast sprint: short support, power, speed… a real individual feat that gave the Nice players considerable advantage before halftime. With another penalty, Nice headed to the dressing room with a commanding lead: 20-3.
The Azuréens even had the opportunity to extend their lead further after an impressive long offensive sequence. But Narbonne’s defense resisted just meters from their line.
At halftime, Guillaume Morette remained cautious: “we’ll need to keep it going, we must stay clear-headed.”
A reversal of fortune
After the break, Nice maintained possession perfectly and continued to advance. An impression of total control emerged, while Narbonne seemed physically affected.
But the match gradually turned. Tyler Morgan appeared to twist his ankle after another impressive attack, before Pupuma was forced off in tears, a striking image from this final.
The yellow card received by Lucas Bachelier on Narbonne’s side seemed to offer even more opportunities to Nice. The Nice players maintained their play. Still advancing, they even found Purdy after a beautiful wide pass. Without managing to score, however. And that may have been where the match turned.
Because despite Nice’s dominance, Narbonne never gave up. Jules Verrier scored a crucial try to completely revive his side: 20-8 with twenty minutes remaining.
The Narbonne players seemed transformed. On another attack, Pierre-Hugo Ducom received a pass at the edge of the field, opening a dangerous breach despite a final loose ball. In turn, Narbonne gradually came back through kicking: 20-13, then 20-16. The tension became unbearable in the final minutes.
A bitter end for Nissa Rugby
And four minutes from the end, the unthinkable happened: Narbonne completely turned the game around to take the lead. 21-20. Another Nice penalty then offered three more points after a dangerous gesture by Bastien Bérangele on a Narbonne player on the ground. Final score: 23-20.
The final whistle freed an entire Narbonne crowd. RC Narbonnais are French Nationale champions after an exceptional comeback.
On the Nice side, regrets were immense. After leading 20-3, Nissa Rugby let slip a title that was within their grasp. The images of dejected Nice players, some joining their children in tears in the stands, marked the end of this cruel final.
In the immediate aftermath, Jean-Pascal Baraque did not hide his frustration: “we were undisciplined. We had the keys to win this match but we rested on our laurels. Congratulations to Narbonne of course but we were undisciplined.”
Now there remains one last opportunity for Nissa Rugby to climb to the next level in a playoff against Stade Montois, 15th in Pro D2.
Ambre Yaici
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