National – Nearly 10,000 spectators for a historic match between Marcq-en-Baroeul and Rouen

Twelfth in the National on equal points with Tarbes thirteenth and first relegationthe OMR is fighting to maintain itself. If everything doesn't go well on the field, it's a completely different story in the stands. Facing Rouen, leader of the division, the Northerners welcomed nearly 10,000 supporters in the stands, 9,122 to be precise. Far from being a coincidence, this crazy crowd for a third division match was desired and was organized by the club itself. “We were aiming for this poster in particular, because Rouen came from Pro D2 and is a big team in this championship. It’s also a little before winter” confirms Olivier Gradel, president of the OMR. If the symbolic bar of 10,000 has not been exceeded, the objective has clearly been achieved. “This is a record for a regular season championship match in Lille.” agrees the president.

A wish to represent the region

Beyond this match, where the Northerners ultimately failed to a point and that they could even have won if their scorer's final penalty had passed at the very end of the match, the OMR wants to become the standard bearer of rugby in the region and promotion to Nationale 1 seems to go in this direction. “This year we feel a real enthusiasm. There are the girls from Lille, but for men's rugby we are the club which plays at the highest level in Hauts-de-France. We really have this ambition to embody and to represent the region, a bit like what Vannes did in Brittany. admits Olivier Gradel.

For that the club will first have to maintain itself, but after a complicated start to the season, Marcq-en-Baroeul beat Carcassonne and Suresnes and is gradually making its mark in this championship before an essential trip to its main competitor in Tarbais.