“It’s a tough pool with many perilous trips, but we knew what to expect. Now it’s up to us to play.” The Nice managers now know who they will be up against in a very high-level pool that includes formidable opponents such as Bédarrides, who finished first in the preliminary phase of Fédérale 1 last year, and also Aubenas and Aix en Provence, who played in the finals of the same Fédérale 1. There will also be some intense reunions with Romans, whom the Nice team faced this season in Fédérale 2 (loss 18-10 at Romans and victory 23-21 at Nice).
Therefore, they will have to fight hard at each championship day, and the first match will be no less significant with a trip, admittedly short, but oh so difficult to the Var neighbors of La Seyne next Sunday, October 14, just a week before the Rugby World Cup final. A derby that should live up to all its promises and undoubtedly bring back many memories to some of today’s managers who were players yesterday.
The 2006/2007 results of the RNCA’s opponents
Rumilly: 6th in the preliminary phase – 4th in the play downs
Bédarrides: 1st in the preliminary phase – 4th in the play-offs (eliminated from the final phase)
La Seyne: 4th in the preliminary phase – 4th in the play-offs (eliminated from the final phase)
Aix en Provence: 3rd in the preliminary phase – Defeated by Nîmes in the final phase (41-25 and 16-28)
Aubenas: 2nd in the preliminary phase – Defeated by Aix en Provence in the final phase (26-20)
Romans: 1st in the preliminary phase of Fédérale 2
Beaurepaire: 4th in the preliminary phase – 3rd in the play-offs (eliminated from the final phase)
