Provence Rugby and Stade Niçois meet this Friday for a first derby labeled South Region. Both clubs are seeking to develop, in particular by focusing on infrastructure, in the hope of expanding the rugby map.
In recent months, the Vannes lighthouse has attracted all the light. A well-deserved exhibition at the sight of the exploit achieved by the gang in Spitzer. In a more pronounced discretion, Provence Rugby and Stade Niçois have two projects in the works which could, in the long term, and if the field follows, take rugby somewhat out of its cradle and thus give competition to the omnipotent RCT. “Nice and Toulon have a common history in rugby, particularly with the saga of the Herrero brothersrecalls the president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, Christian Estrosi. But these are two very distinct territories. Toulon is closer to Marseille or Aix-en-Provence, which has also created its rugby project for several years, with some success.”
Formerly from Provence and Toulon, Jean-Charles Orioli takes a keen look at his regional movements: “Aix stands out culturally compared to the other two, which are quite historic. The club likes to build itself with humility. It is also a younger club, which is experiencing its finest hours. They do things in order with the training and training center There is a real vision carried by a president, a good and down to earth man, Denis Philippon.”
Cities in tune
Like what happened in Toulon, with the Boudjellal-Falco duo, leaders and municipalities are walking hand in hand to grow. “Rugby is an essential discipline in France, insists Christian Estrosi. Not only on a sporting level, but also economically, sociologically and in the media. In recent years, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Lyon have managed to establish themselves. In my opinion, Nice has the potential to follow this path. Recent rugby events in our city have been great successes. The people of Nice are attached to this sport. This reinforces my ambition to develop a great club here. We want to enable a gradual emancipation from public aid by structuring an autonomous economic model. In recent years, Stade Niçois has been able to attract leading local private partners. The recent arrival of Jean-Baptiste Aldigé is a very positive signal for the future.”
Jean-Charles Orioli, converted this summer to real estate diagnostics with his company “Diag XV”, goes even further. “There is the breeding ground in the region to have big clubs. Around Aix, for example, everyone is very rugby and is pushing to have a Top 14 club. Undeniably, I first see Provence Rugby s “to settle in the elite and over time There is the will of a president, of a region and of a city. This can be seen in particular in the infrastructure, with this beautiful stadium.
Stadiums at the heart of the issues
The last semi-finalist of Pro D2 also had the agreement of the municipality to expand, in the event of a rise, Maurice-David and provide it with more than 10,000 places. This season, the Blacks are cramped in their house with one sellout after another. “The stadium experience is one of the best in France, adds the hooker. For business, I even prefer to bring someone to Maurice-David rather than to Mayol. It's more than rugby, with food trucks, a beautiful bodega. All of this contributes to bringing in and retaining private partners.” In this sense, the reception will soon have a makeover, according to our information, with the aim of pampering spectators and thus generating income. Enough to fuel a little more fervor in an audience that remains calm during the meetings? “Fervor is earned over time. You have to experience the final phases, victories and defeats. Passion is created over generations, like in Nice and Toulon. Provence Rugby, in the rugby ladder, has just been born and needs adventures.”
Nice, for its part, experienced its resurrection last May, becoming champion of Frane de Nationale. A title which proved that the club “is capable of uniting around him”, says the mayor of Nice, who then specifies his ambition for the Rouge et Noir. “The Arboras stadium is no longer suited to the club's ambitions. If we want to support it to the top, it is imperative to equip ourselves with modern infrastructure. An ambitious restructuring project is underway. Last week, I received the leaders to discuss the characteristics and needs linked to this new stadium. It will be essential to guarantee a viable economic model and allow rugby to fully flourish in our region. strong. With a past. glorious, unifying values, and a structuring project that we support, the Stadium can permanently instill rugby in the hearts of the people of Nice and in the national elite.” After the sausage pancake, the Top 14 could soon succumb to socca and calisson.
