Rugby CHALLENGE CUP 2024/2025 – Four victories in six matches for French clubs for the opening of the competition. Only RC Vannes missed the opportunity in Georgia, while Perpignan narrowly escaped in South Africa.
It was Montpellier which opened the ball on Friday evening for the French clubs involved in the Rugby Challenge Cup. Winner in 2021, the Hérault club traveled to the Dragons, and signed an atomic start to the game, leading 0-18 after 20 minutes on attempts of Madosh Tambwe et Marco Tauleigne. Before suffering the Welsh awakening, but the 2022 French champions still led 14-18 at the break. And incredibly, that was to be the score at the end of a match in complicated conditions in typically British weather. Nevertheless, the essential is there for Montpellier, which launches its European campaign with a victory.
Bayonne is doing well
For RC Vannes, it was a great first. A very first European match on the pitch of the Black Lion, in Georgia. Quickly ahead thanks to a test of Stephen Varneythe Bretons engaged in a real battle, which they ended up losing on a final penalty from the home scorer Port of Matklavato impose oneself 22-19. The joy of the Georgians suggested the magnitude of the performance of defeating a Top 14 club, but it is only a postponement for the Vannes who will have a prestigious shock at La Rabine next weekend against Gloucester.
The scenario was the same for Rowing Bayonnais at Jean-Dauger, but this time in favor of the Basques. Rodrigo Bruni launched the Ciel et Blanc on the path to success, but in terrible weather, the game was complicated to develop for the Bayonnais. Here again, a scorers' duel took place, and it was won by Joris Segondwho passed the penalty to win a few minutes from time. Enough to impose yourself 17-16 and launch a potentially successful European Rowing campaign.
Penultimate in the Top 14 and in a bad situation, Lyon OU intended to take advantage of the Challenge Cup to relaunch its season. Mission accomplished during the reception of Cardiff, with the addition of the return to form of a certain Ethan Dumortierauthor of a double. But this 5-point victory was not easy to achieve and was only possible thanks to a 13-0 in the last 15 minutes. Is the patient on the mend? The trip to Zebre next weekend could nevertheless allow us to drive the point home.
-The All Bonus Section
This Sunday, the last two French clubs took to the track, starting with Perpignan. Former finalist of the major European Cup, but rarely successful continentally speaking, the Catalan club started in South Africa, with the Cheetahs. A match started with a tryAntoine Aucagne in less than two minutes, but if it led at the break, USAP fell back to the point of conceding the lead on penalty in the 78th minute. Fortunately, Aucagne saved the day with a final kick, securing a 20-20 draw which could be important for qualification.
For the Section Paloise, a regular in this competition, the job was done and done well against the Newcastle Falcons. Not only did the Béarnais meticulously push back each English highlight, but what's more, they went for the bonus at the very end of the match on a killer counter-attack concluded by Eliott Roudil. Before also going to South Africa next weekend, this victory 32-19 allows the Section, still stuck in the soft underbelly of the Top 14, to breathe new life into its season.
