Since 2017 and its promotion to Pro D2, Uson has been able to take advantage of its status as the only professional club in Nièvre to attract a large audience, on a land that is not historically oval. Each match is a real event in a city of Nevers now known mainly for its Rugby club. Dive into the heart of Pré-Fleuri on a match night!
What to do in Nevers? The question may seem a bit provocative for our Nivernais readers. But once you have visited the center of the town, with a look at the Ducal Palace and the Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julitte Cathedral, you can already start booking your return ticket. Unless you are condemned to stay in the prefecture of 58. But the sunset and the mildness of this end of the day in mid-October make you want to stroll a little before leaving. If the Loire, unleashed, has swallowed up Nevers beach, the quays along the side canal of the Loire are attractive. But opposite the port, around fifteen people don’t care about the orange color of the sky. They swear by yellow and blue.
The Uson supporters club, Azur et Or, was created in 2016, the year of the rise to D2. Since this summer, the 95 members have had premises 150 meters from the stadium. History of playing the match before the match or remembering the exploits of Ambadiang, Ceyte, Basson or Tarrit, made heroes. Between a sip and a handful of chips, they are delighted to see each other again. Because in Nevers, the impact of rugby lasts more than 80 minutes.
Everyone is behind rugby because that’s all there is to it
When asked “what were you doing on the Friday evening before Pro D2”, memories are blurred as the Pré-Fleuri stadium has become the place where the Neversois meet. “Here, rugby is a social vectoradmits Anthony Roux, president of the supporters club. The stadium is a place where we meet, we drink a beer. Friendships are even created! Everyone is behind rugby because that’s the only thing… As a result, the city lives for this sport!” It must be said that Uson is the only professional club in the department. Rugby therefore reaches beyond the city of Nièvre and a simple match quickly becomes an event in Nièvre, a department where the cultural offering is weak or almost non-existent. To see a concert or show, you have to go to Dijon, Clermont-Ferrand or Auxerre. Enough to make a simple second division match a real event!
Icon Sport – Hugo Pfeiffer
If the oldest remember Montchanin, Mâcon or Le Creusot in the elite of still amateur rugby, these remain clubs quite geographically distant from Nevers, not a historic rugby land by the way. “Here, as soon as a sport takes off, people follow. They are interested. If it wasn’t rugby, it would be football”continues the Uson fan, himself a football fan for many years. At his side, Laurent, a fan of the club since 1986. He passionately replays trips to Cognac, Aix-en-Provence, Béziers or even that famous day of May 13, 2017 when the club was promoted to Pro D2. He doesn’t forget these Fédérale 3 matches with 200 people in the stands. He is dressed in a light blue shirt with small flowers, a yellow and blue striped scarf and a Uson cap. “When I wear it in town, lots of people come to talk to me about rugby”he emphasizes.
Nevers recognized thanks to rugby
7 p.m., the Azuro mascot gets dressed and the members of the supporters club join the crowd movement towards the Pré-Fleuri. In the city, only these four people playing doubles on a tennis court adjoining the enclosure seem disinterested in this Nevers – Béziers. In the sections, you have to do slaloms, sometimes waiting to make your way among the 5,902 spectators. Some will complain, saying that it is possible to do better. But for a team fifteenth in the division at kick-offit’s a great turnout.
For 80 minutes, the public will sing to push their own, whistle the opposing scorer – Samuel Marques – but also put pressure on the referee by not hesitating to express their dissatisfaction. The atmosphere remains pleasant throughout a close match. “We are a little Béziers”breathes Laurent. Small Béziers in the stands but big Nevers on the pitch. After two defeats, already, at Pré-Fleuri this season, the Yellow and Blue regain confidence by narrowly winning the scalp of the ASBH after a meeting that was not always controlled (28-23). The “Here, here, it’s Nevers” started again and, gradually, some of the fans went to the stadium bodega to drink in this victory and celebrate. While some dance in front of the DJ, Xavier Péméja introduces himself to the press. Between two questions about Tom Deleuze’s match or the current dynamic, the manager returned to the crowds in the stands.
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“It’s a place, in Nevers, where you put 6,000 people on average fifteen times a year. Tell me what animation can do this? Since when has Nevers had its name known in France? Since the club is in Pro D2″analyzes the old Montalbanese. Originally from a South-West that lives only for the oval ball, he takes a kind look at the place taken by the Uson in the city and the hearts of its inhabitants. “This club is named Nevers. The players should be proud of that. They give joy, happiness, honor and pride. I know this because I have friends who come to Pré-Fleuri even though they have never played rugby. One told me: “I went on vacation to the Basque Country and when I said I came from Nevers, they immediately talked to me about rugby.” L’Uson, today, is the best vector of the city’s image.”
Since I became president of Uson, I have been a god
After the match, Régis Dumange, president of the club, offers his analysis of the match, microphone in hand, in the space dedicated to partners. One floor above, another room is dedicated to them. The president is delighted to present these two rooms where the people of Nevers meet and can talk business to each other. The 73-year-old businessman has been at the head of Uson since 2009. CEO of the local company Textilot Plus, he contributed to the success of the Nevers club by putting his hand in the pot. A romantic story. “Young, I played three-quarter center at Uson for fifteen years. I even played in Toulouse, at Toec. I had gone to live in Tournefeuille for rugby. But I didn’t play. Because, at the time, we were playing with 15, not 23, so I couldn’t have a place as a substitute. Only those with southern accents played. So I came back to Nevers. At the time here there was only a wooden stand for 400 people. It was Federal 3 in amateur rugby which was more so than now.”
Obviously, seeing rugby bastions like Béziers, Biarritz or Agen parade does not leave him indifferent. Like the fervor around his favorite club: “Nevers is a town that has suffered from the lack of recognition for not having a high-level sports club. This town exudes rugby like those in the southwest! Uson has become a source of pride for the people of Nevers and the Nivernais. We don’t just take care of playing matches, we organize lots of things. There is a very important social life around the club, like the number of players who stay in Nièvre after their career. I think that Nièvre could even be repopulated thanks to rugby.”
Icon Sport – Hugo Pfeiffer
But the popularity of Uson does not only have advantages for Régis Dumange. “I’m going to tell you a secrethe continues, still in the partners area. For 50 years, I was the boss of my company. Before I was the president of the rugby club, my business was already at the same level as it is today. But when I went to the center of the city, no one recognized me, I was completely calm. Today, I can’t do 10 meters, impossible. A business manager, even if he employs 600 people, is unknown, almost a thug. But since I became president of Uson, I have been a god! Whereas I exist as president because I have partners who support me. But there’s only one for me in people’s eyes! It’s flattering but it’s tiring (smile).”
In this town of more than 30,000 souls, there were 4,100 spectators on average during the last year of Fédérale 1, 7,100 just before Covid-19, in a stadium with 7,300 seats. For Xavier Péméja, the city and the region should support his club more. It must be said that Régis Dumange has plenty of projects for his club, but also his city. He wants to install a synthetic lawn at Pré-Fleuri. This will make it possible to organize shows and concerts in the stadium. And finally know what to do in Nevers, apart from Friday evenings…
