LE Stade Montois took a big step towards maintaining Dax (34-20), but he has not yet saved his head in Pro D2. Except disaster, this is only a question of days, or even hours, in the event of a home victory against Valence-Roman (this Friday at 7:30 p.m.) or, at the same time, a success of Nevers against Aurillac. Take up the maintenance… before launching the big maneuvers? Because for next season, questions remain.
1 Staff side, the big blur
Discarded from the field on April 2 after the defeat too at home against Soyaux-Agoulême, Patrick Milhet and Stéphane Prosper still do not know what their future will be. President Jean-Robert Cazeaux, who granted himself a few days of vacation during the truce, has not yet officially exchanged with the manager and the chief coach to determine the conditions of their probable departures. The paths of the two friends, very united, should separate: if Patrick Milhet has certainly known his 19th and last year in the yellow and black house, it is not completely excluded that the Tarusate reinstates the staff to support Romain Mareuil and Clément Briscadieu. But his name comes from Agen’s side, where Mauricio Reggiardo is announced, with whom he collaborated in the Sua and then in Castres and which he is close.
Like the ex-three-quarter coach Frédéric Urruty, dismissed at the end of November, Milhet and Prosper remain linked to the club until 2027. In order to cover a possible contractual break, or even a dismissal, with the three men, the Montois stadium would have proposed its three-quarter Semi Lagivala to the Rochelais stadium, which could thus buy the last year of its contract. Within the maritime club, we do not confirm or not infirm this possibility, but the serious injury of Lagivala to an ankle against Dax could change the situation.
Regarding the coaches, Romain Mareuil and Clément Briscadieu also remain in the vagueness, focused on their rescue mission. If the first also has two years of contract, that of the second arrives at the end of June, just like that of the physical trainer Laurent Arbo. And the arrival of a manager, even an forward coach to support Mareuil, is very much doubt.
In recent weeks, the name of the current coach of Colomiers, Julien Sarraute, insistently returned to “Moun”. If the ex-manager of the XV Vincent Etcheto and the Langonnais technician Christophe Hamacek remain attentive to the Montoise situation, the 45-year-old Gersois, recognized trainer, for the moment refuses to comment. However, he would not be closed to the idea of relaunching a new project in the Landes, he who will leave the dove after six seasons as the owner of the sportsman. The hypothesis of his arrival took thickness. But this one would be done without its coach of the forwards Fabien Berneau, who would find the Columérine formation.
2 On the effective side, the contours are emerging
“Almost all of the recruitment is made,” said Jean-Robert Cazeaux in early April. However, due to the precarious sporting situation, no name had filtered so far. After the crucial victory against Dax, things accelerated, according to our colleagues in rugbyrama, which announced four arrivals.
The Montois stadium would have found its right pillar in the person of Thibault Berthaud (28, 1.79 m, 119 kg). The former right -hander of SA XV, who joined Oyonnax in 2021, only knew seven match sheets this season (for no tenure). Like the Castres center, Joris Dupont (24 years old, 1.80 m, 90 kg): trained in CO, he also only made game ends this year (three sheets in top 14, two in champions cup including a start). Finally, two New Zealanders would also have signed a pre-contract: the melee half Lisati Milo-Harris (29, 1.82 m, 90 kg), accustomed to the local championship and passed by the super rugby among the blues and the chiefs, and the number 8 Sam Tuifua (23 years, 1.88 m, 117 kg), which evolves this season in Houston, American. They would all be committed for two seasons.
Philippe Savat / So
If these four arrivals materialize, the contours of the workforce next season are becoming clear (see below). The main unknown concerns Aston Fortin, who has had a proposal for extension in his hands for several weeks but who has still not officially lifted his option. If the South African decides to extend his lease, the yellow and black club would then be looking for a second line and an additional center. And this, in the event that Semi Lagivala remains Montois, just like Joris Pialot, on which the former staff no longer counted and who was heading for a new loan. Narbonne, where the kid of the Clape Massif was formed, would closely follow his situation in the event of a rise in Pro D2.
The 2025-2026 workforce
Left pillars. Bultel, Goginava, Osman-Bosch, Bats.Right pillars. Alvès, Gajion, Berthaud (?), Sefa.
Talkers. Begic, Dufour, Lagrange.
2nd line. Durand, Dussutour, Garrault, Fortin (?) + 1 recruit.
3E Ligne. Bertheau, R. Darquier, Lafforgue, Ponpon, Robic, Iashagashvili, Tuifua (?), Cassio.
Melee demise. Canut, N. Darquier, Milo-Harris (?).
Opectors-Arrers. Cortes, du plessis, Laclau, Pialot.
Centres. Massé, Wakaya, Dupont (?) + 1 recruit.
AILLAIRS. Bento, Dawai, De Nardi, Lagivala, Sayerse.
