A page will be turned for Provence Rugby with the departure, at the end of the season, of general manager Mauricio Reggiardo.
The Argentine technician announced it to his players Friday evening after the superb victory over Oyonnax (38-3) at the end of the 5th day of Pro D2.
The timing seems surprising at the start of the championship when Aix is among the favorites for promotion to the Top 14 after its failure last season in the semi-final against Grenoble. But Reggiardo, at the end of his contract in 2025, preferred to take the lead since management has not given any signs or desire to extend the adventure of the Argentinian, who arrived in Aix in March 2021.
Extended in December 2022 after having managed to keep the club in Pro D2 after the drama which shook Provence Rugby during the tragic disappearance of winger Thomas Lacelle, the former Argentinian international pillar arrived in Provence after an experience of less than two seasons at Castres, a club in which he had played for a long time (1996-2005).
In Aix, Reggiardo broke the longevity record for a manager with 103 matches in charge with only 40 defeats to his name for 63 successes as of today. He therefore has 25 matches left or a little more in the event of the final phase to complete the loop.
This planned departure is perhaps not a surprise to everyone since president Denis Philipon announced last season the arrival of Philippe Saint-André in 2025-2026 as sporting director.
“The arrival of Philippe Saint-André is an incredible opportunity for the club to acquire one of the very best, explained Aix president Denis Philipon. His skills and expertise will inevitably allow us to progress. It is also a magnificent opportunity for rugby in Provence to see one of the figures of French rugby arrive and I wish him all the best, which has been the case wherever he has been. By anticipating this arrival a year in advance, we will be able to place the entire sports sector in an ideal environment to aim even higher in the coming seasons.”
It remains to be seen how the players of Provence Rugby, currently 4th in Pro D2, will digest this news.
