Loaned by Rouen, Peter Lydon will start with Angoulême. The Montois have recorded many absentees… Injuries, returns or even suspensions, we take stock of the numbers of the different clubs before the twelfth day of Pro D2 and after the break.
Nevers
The one-week break did not reduce the list of injured players, to which the name of scrum half Guillaume Manevy was even added. And few returns are hoped for between now and the Christmas break; only those of second row Senio Toleafoa and flanker Hugues Bastide are being considered for the moment. The pillar Jordan Seneca, the hooker Jonathan Maïau, the fly-half Yohan Le Bourhis and the centers Alivereti Loaloa and Léonard Paris will therefore wait until 2025, in all probability, to put on the yellow and blue jersey again.
Dax
The Thibaud Dréan abutment must undergo an operation for stones. Small muscle alert for the hooker Hiriart-Urruty, left to rest, just like the pillar Diogo Ferreira, after the tests with Portugal. On the second row, Mattieu Bidau (shoulder), Alex Manukula (Hand) and Lucas Guillaume (thigh and knee) are unavailable for a long time. Scrum half Simon Garrouteigt had cruciate ligament surgery on his knee. The same fate awaits winger Jope Naseara. Finally, Alexandre Pilati is recovering from his adductor surgery.
Béziers
The break made it possible to record many returns. Even if “Chico” Fernandes Moreira and Romain Uruty are still a little short of joining the squad and Paul Réau had a small injury to his thigh this week in training, the Biterrois will attack this block with their main forces. Youssef Amrouni (calf) is out, while captain Clément Ancely will still be suspended for one match. Branden Holder was revived for his part in a Rugby sevens event.
Agen
Even if he has taken over the ground, second row John Madigan will not be fit before January. No more than Arnaud Duputs. The captain underwent surgery on a serious wrist injury and will miss four months of competition. Martin Devergie, for his part, is still bothered by physical problems and remains in the infirmary. An infirmary that Théo Belan, Pierre Jouvin and Kolinio Ramoka recently joined. Finally, full-back Jean-Marcellin Buttin is expected at the start of 2025, if all goes well.
Biarritz
Victim of a ruptured Achilles tendon against Bayonne, Dyer will not play all season. Fariscot (kneecap and ankle) will not return until January. Du Preez, Dakuwaqa and David will return for Dax next week. Retière and Morgan have returned to collective training. Motoc (shoulder) is expected for the match against Aurillac. Tuataane (rupture of the posterior ligament) will be stopped for three months. Filimo Taofifenua (knee), Arthur Bonneval and Bastien Guillemin (calf) and Clément Martinez (adductors) are not yet available. Jessy Jegerlehner was spared mid-week. The staff hopes he can hold his place.
Aurillac
The list of injured has been reduced considerably. Hooker Luka Nioradze, second row Medhi Slamani as well as flankers Aleksandre Burduli and Hugo Huurman are all in care while several players are spared such as Georgian fly-half Tedo Abzhandadze or Samoan winger Elijah Niko.
Oyonnax
Kebble (concussion), Vaotoa (foot fracture), Durand (ankle ligament), Battye (concussion), Picault (ill), Bouraux (shoulder surgery) and Stark (foot fracture) are still in care. Third row Veresa Ramotabua has returned to the squad and scrum-half Jonathan Ruru has returned to training. Finally, internationals Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia), Ewan Johnson (Scotland) and Manuel Leindekar (Uruguay) are back
Mont-de-Marsan
The Yellow and Black have many absentees for this trip. In addition to Eroni Sau (knee, season ended), Nicolas Garrault (knee), Jules Even (back) and Rapahaël Darquier, injured for a long time or for a long period, have been added to the list of unavailable: Christophe Loustalot (adductors) , Romain Durand (low back pain) and Aston Fortuin (suspension). Simao Broeiro Bento and Luka Bejic, returning from the Portuguese selection, join the group and Mike Faleafa returns to the number 8 position.
Provence Rugby
Welsh international pillar Tomas Francis will be absent for several months. Injured in a shoulder, the latter hopes to be back in March. For his part, third row Malohi Suta continues his recovery phase and could even join the group in this last block of the year. As for the Georgian international Tornike Jalagonia, who left on an autumn tour with his selection, he is expected to rejoin the group from the trip to Colomiers next Thursday. Finally, fullback Thomas Salles could also return to the group in this final block of matches in 2024, which will end on the weekend of December 20.
Nice
Stade Nice is attacking this new block with a team relatively spared from injuries. Only prop Jules Martinez joined the injured group made up of prop Sunia Vola (elbow) and second row Yan Tivoli (hernia). The Maralpine left-hander should make his return in the coming weeks which will see the Rouge et Noir then continue with Nevers, Biarritz and Grenoble.
Soyaux-Angoulême
After more than two months of absence, third row Germain Burgaud returns to the bench. He was hit in the face during the 3rd day in Nice, an injury which required an operation. Arriving at the SA XV last week, Irish full-back Peter Lydon, on loan from Dax, is the starter. The Charentais will have to do without Rémi Brosset and Matthys Gratien, at least until 2025. The usual captain Gautier Gibouin is not yet 100%. Jacob Botica has returned to training. Devisme, Léo Morand-Bruyat, Glénat, Farissier and Barrett are unavailable.
Valence-Romans
In addition to the mental side, the week of vacation granted to VRDR players last week also did a lot of good physically. This is evidenced by the infirmary, which is almost empty. For this match in Angoulême, only three-quarter Charles Bouldoire will be missing due to injury. He is recovering from surgery on his wrist. Fabien Fortassin was therefore spoiled for choice when it came to composing his team.
Grneoble
Injured in Scotland (shoulder) with the Portuguese selection, flanker Duarte Madeira will miss the next four weeks of competition while third row center Hardwick (herniated disc) will be absent for around two months. Tiles (partially) offset by the upcoming return to competition of rookie Sirgel (24th man this Friday), who should make his big debut at Mont-de-Marsan, where pillar Eglaine could also make his return from injury. Note that right pillar Johannes Jonker could also return before the end of the block.
Colomiers
On the second row, Granouillet (concussion protocol) has one more week and Roux (knee) should resume next week or the one after that. Having left for the Spanish selection, Pirlet was unable to play due to a rekindled back injury. Still on the front line, Kolokilagi (thigh) and Pacheco (cervicals) are missing. In the third row, Baseisei and Caumel are fit and Maurel has returned to training. Good news after his long convalescence. Behind, we will have to wait until 2025 to see Auriac, Marta and Delourmel again. And undoubtedly Saurs… But Pinto's return to competition is imminent.
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