Sunday, Stade des Arboras will host the undisputed leaders of pool 3 of Federal 1. Indeed, Pays d’Aix Rugby Club (PARC) is first with 31 points from ten matches (6 wins, one draw, and three losses). PARC has the best attack in the pool and among their ranks plays the former French international Legi Matiu. Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur ranks fifth (tied with La Seyne and Beaurepaire) with 19 points (4 wins and 6 losses). In the first leg, the team from Nice was defeated 46 to 11. It was a tough score, but the Nice players had put the Provençals in trouble and were even leading 13 to 11 in the second half before collapsing, handicapped by thirteen absentees. Nice lost for the third consecutive time and was concerned about the rest of the championship: “It’s going to be difficult for us and we need to start thinking about maintaining our league position. No surprises there, we knew the difficulty of our pool. Let’s just say we were hoping for better, with at least one home win (against Aubenas) and defensive bonus points (at La Seyne and Rumilly).” The words of general manager Julien Schramm the day after the match in Aix-en-Provence sounded like fate. “There is no great sporting adventure without pain, without difficulties to overcome. We will still be in Federal 1 by the end of the season,” he continued.
Since then, RNCA has bounced back and has been stringing together victories at home against Romans, Beaurepaire, La Seyne, and Rumilly, and also earning a defensive bonus point at Bédarrides and Aubenas thanks especially to the former Aix player Thibaut Déjardin, who has been successful in his kicks. Challenges persist and the difficult second halves against Rumilly and La Seyne confirm this. On Sunday, to hope to win the match, a performance of 80 minutes will be necessary.
PARC continues its journey. The goal is to move up to Pro D2, known in 2004 after having been champions of France in Federal 1. PARC was also champions of France’s third division in 1986. Last year, the team from Provence went to the quarterfinals of Federal 1. Looking at the history of Nice and Aix-en-Provence, the Azureans have a longer past in the elite rugby league but, in recent years, the Bouches-du-Rhône team has been a notch above. Come Sunday at Arboras, it will be experience against youth. Who will prevail? See you at the stadium.
