Leadership Resignations Plunge Club into Crisis
Nissa Rugby's Welsh contingent faces an uncertain future after the French club was plunged into chaos amid high-profile resignations and the threat of relegation. Just weeks after winning promotion to the Pro D2, the second division of French rugby, club president Jean-Baptiste Aldige and association president Patrice Prevot both announced their resignations at the end of the club's recent general assembly. The two leaders stated that the conditions are no longer in place to continue the club's development.
Promotion Success Now Overshadowed
In May, Nissa - formerly known as Stade Nicoise - celebrated promotion to the Pro D2 after beating Stade Montois in a promotion/relegation play-off. Head coach and Welshman Gareth Baber guided the team to the second tier, with former Dragons coach Barry Maddocks serving as his assistant. Senior Wales internationals Tyler Morgan and Owen Williams played key roles on the field, both scoring in the play-off win. However, the jubilation has been short-lived.
Ambitious Plans Stalled
The double resignation comes after Nissa announced ambitious plans to become a French rugby heavyweight again, including heavy investment in playing talent and a new 12,000-seat stadium to be completed by 2029. The City of Nice and new mayor Eric Ciotti had promised massive support, but progress has stalled. French media report that Nissa have been left without a response after several requests for a meeting to validate the city's financial support, and other projects, including a temporary stand, have been cancelled.
Financial Guarantees and Relegation Threat
Following the resignations, Nissa faces catastrophe before the season starts. They will be summoned to appear before the Rugby Regulatory Authority on Friday to provide financial guarantees for next season. According to local newspaper Nice-Matin, the club is not certain to attend the summons and is even less certain of providing the necessary guarantees, with automatic relegation from Pro D2 a possible punishment.
Mayor's Pledge to Save the Club
Mayor Eric Ciotti has moved to play down fears, stating that the city of Nice will use all means at its disposal to ensure the club can play in Pro D2 next season. In a statement, he said the city council had already mobilized the maximum legal amount of authorized subsidies and committed half a million Euros to carry out work to allow Nissa to play in Pro D2 this season.
Resignation Statement
"This carefully considered decision is necessary given a simple observation," said Aldige and Prevot. "The conditions that motivated our commitment are unfortunately no longer met to allow the club to serenely pursue its development and take the steps required by its ambition. It is our responsibility not to harbor any illusions about the project's prospects in its current context and not to distort the LNR and FFR championships. We leave our positions with deep regret, that of not having been able to bring the project we championed to fruition, despite a historic promotion to Pro D2 which testifies to the exceptional potential of our club and the enthusiasm it generated both locally and nationally."
