Pro D2: Sudden halt for Nissa Rugby, both presidents leave the project

Nissa Rugby finds itself suddenly without leadership following the simultaneous resignations of Jean‑Baptiste Aldigé and Patrice Prévot. An unexpected rupture that threatens to weaken the rise to Pro D2 and questions the future of the Nice project.

This is quite an unexpected announcement! This Friday, July 17, at the general assembly, the president of SASP, Jean‑Baptiste Aldigé, and the president of the association, Patrice Prévot, announced their departure from the leadership of Nissa Rugby. A sudden announcement, all the more striking as the club had just achieved all its objectives: promotion to Pro D2, structuring of the professional sector, solid recruitment and renewed local momentum.

This decision creates a shock in the Nice rugby environment. The two leaders explained: “This decision, carefully considered, is necessary given a simple observation: the conditions that motivated our commitments are unfortunately no longer in place to allow the club to continue its development peacefully and to take the steps required by its ambition.”

A project halted despite historic promotion and structured recruitment

The simultaneous departure of the two presidents comes in a context of tensions around Marcel-Volot stadium. The renovation and expansion project, validated under the previous municipal administration, has made no progress since the change in leadership at city hall. The city has also ended several sports commitments, which weakens the club’s environment. Yet guarantees had been presented in recent weeks at the occasion of the evening organized at Villa Masséna to celebrate the club’s return to Pro D2. Charles-Ange Ginésy had confirmed the commitment of the Alpes-Maritimes department: “We will be there, we were in 2024, we maintained in 2025 (…) count on me as department president, count on Eric Ciotti as finance commission president, also at the department, to advocate and ensure that the funds arrive.” The new mayor of Nice went along with this: “What we lost that was futile for two weeks (the Olympic Games, editor’s note), we will build for entire generations. I’m committing to this tonight.” For now it is difficult to believe that the problem comes solely from the political aspect.

This situation creates deep doubt about Nissa Rugby’s ability to establish itself sustainably in the championship. The two leaders clarified: “It is our responsibility not to maintain illusions about the project’s prospects in its current context and not to distort the LNR and FFR championships.”

The two presidents concluded: “We are leaving our positions with deep regret, the regret of not having been able to see through to completion the project we were carrying, despite a historic promotion to Pro D2 which testifies to our club’s exceptional potential and the enthusiasm generated at both local and national levels.”

Surprising timing

This rupture comes as the squad had just been consolidated. The club had confirmed eleven contract renewals, a sign of the willingness to stabilize the group that had achieved promotion. Enzo Labadie, Thibaud Rey, Joel Kpoku, Farai Muradiki, Bastien Berenguel, Léo Chauvin and Hugo Sarrasin had extended in the forwards. Inoke Nalaga, Tyler Morgan, Baptiste Lafond and Clément Egiziano had done the same among the backs. Recruitment was also progressing with the arrival of experienced players, including Francis Saili, a New Zealand center who previously played for Biarritz, Racing 92 and Vannes.

This sporting momentum seemed to confirm the solidity of the Nice project, reinforced by the players’ deliberate choices. Jean‑Baptiste Aldigé had reminded everyone the day after promotion: “They took the risk, they took the madness of joining this beautiful project. You earned on the field the right to play on the Promenade next year.”