Qualified for the European League thanks to a wildcard granted by the European Handball Federation, OGC Nice Côte d’Azur Handball now knows its first opponent. The Nice women will host Norwegian side Larvik HK in early October before a decisive trip to Scandinavia.
OGC Nice Côte d’Azur Handball knows its first opponent on the continental stage. The draw for the second qualifying round of the European League (C2) designated Larvik HK, a Norwegian club with an impressive track record.
Sixth in the French championship, the Azur club benefits from the new wildcard granted to France, offering a sixth European place for the 2026-2027 season. This invitation from the European Handball Federation (EHF) rewards the sixth place obtained in the Butagaz Energy League at the end of last season.
The first leg will be played at the Jean-Bouin Sports Palace in Nice on the weekend of October 3 and 4, 2026. The second leg will take place in Norway, at Larvik HK’s home ground, the weekend of October 10 and 11. The prize at stake is qualification for the rest of the European League.
The challenge promises to be tough for the Nice women. Larvik HK is one of the historic clubs of European handball. European champions in 2011, the Norwegian club boasts 19 Norwegian championship titles and 17 national cups in its trophy cabinet. While Larvik no longer dominates continental handball as it did in the early 2010s, the Scandinavian side remains a regular competitor in European competitions. Last season, the club participated in the European League and finished fourth in the Norwegian championship.
A second European participation for the Nice women
This qualification marks the return of OGC Nice Handball to the continental stage. The Azur team had already participated in the EHF Cup during the 2019-2020 season. This European campaign will therefore be the second in the club’s history.
France will have six representatives in women’s European competitions in 2026-2027. Metz and Brest will compete in the Champions League. Dijon, the defending title holder in the European League, is directly qualified for the group stage. Chambray, Saint-Amand and OGC Nice will have to go through the preliminary rounds.
In parallel, the Butagaz Energy League schedule is now known. The Nice women will start the championship on August 29 with the home reception of Stella Saint-Maur. A few weeks later, the double confrontation against Larvik HK will launch an important sequence at the start of the season. Between championship and European Cup, OGC Nice Handball is preparing for a busy schedule, a calendar that could be accompanied by a reinforcement of the squad before the restart. A return to training that is scheduled for tomorrow for the Eagles!
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