14-05-2025
Big names, big calves and ‘Les eléphants' — France's end-of-term bunfight
Fans of promotion and relegation are in for a treat over the next month. France has commenced its end-of-season fête of play-offs: weekend after weekend of quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals and matchs d'accession. The fluidity has begun.
Let us start where amateur meets professional. On Sunday, Niort triumphed over Langon to secure their place in Nationale, the third tier of French rugby. The Niortais are towards the west, just under an hour's drive from La Rochelle, and they will rise up a level with Rennes Étudiants Club (REC), who beat them in the Nationale 2 final.
The restoration of REC to the third tier — they have a five-year plan to reach Pro D2 — adds a Breton accoutrement to the sport's upper echelons, following
