Rouen, Vannes, Lorient, these cities that want a Top 14 club
The authorities have been encouraging the regions for several years to develop rugby throughout the territory. it works with the western region which becomes an important ground of the oval ball. However, it lacks an elite club. Who will be the first elite club, a Breton club or a Norman club?
Brittany has always been a land of football, it has the largest number of clubs in L1 (Lorient, Nantes, Rennes, Brest). Without wanting to compete with the king sport, rugby is gradually becoming one of the sports that matter, it is no longer only practiced in the South-West; Gary Poinas, general manager of Stade Nantais Rugby, welcomes this:
“The enthusiasm in Brittany for rugby is real. The places for the World Cup matches at La Beaujoire sold out in a few minutes. We must surf on the good image conveyed by the French team to attract companies. With Rouen, Vannes and a little further La Rochelle, rugby fans can see some great rugby. There is room for everyone, for all sports. »
Rouen and Vannes are already in Pro D2, Nantes in Federal 1 and Rennes in National progress regularly and climb the ladder. Despite competition from many elite sports in both cities, Gary Poinas is convinced that rugby has a place in these two great cities:
“We have a good relationship with the hand, the basket, the volley. There are always interests to exchange, everyone progresses like that, even with the other rugby clubs in the area. We have to pick the best ideas from everywhere”.
“Vannes and Rouen are the two projects most in advance”
“We have a high-level team and technical staff, we have recruited important players, we now have to find the right balance on the pitch. We have ambitions, but we don’t want to cut corners. If we manage to go up to Pro D2 in a few seasons, it will already be huge and we will have to manage this transition between amateurism and professionalism well, even if we are already in a semi-professional situation. Currently, the clubs closest to the elite are Vannes and Rouen. These are the two projects that have the furthest lead. Vannes may be a step ahead, but Rouen is also working very well. Rennes also a great project. »
Brittany dreams of one day having a club in the elite, the last step is often the most difficult to franchise, but Vannes is not really very far from it. Unless Rouen gives him priority…