For Nîmes, playing the climb remains the objective

Les Nîmois sont décidés à repartir pied au plancher. alexis bethune

Nationale 2/Le RCN (2e) a repris.

Having barely digested the last end-of-year holiday treats, party favors and Christmas trees put away, the players of the Nîmes Rugby club returned to training on Monday January 2. No more evenings with friends around a raclette or an aligot, back to the coals to be ready on January 14, with this first meeting of the year at the leader, the Stade métropolitain.

"The players needed to eliminate the few excesses of the holidays, recognizes Nîmes manager Guillaume Aguilar. In the first days, we set up games to get back into the rhythm of training, to get the bodies back on track." Before quickly switching "into championship mode".

No defeat at Kaufmann in 2023

It was necessary because the RCN technician (2nd with one match more than Mâcon and Auch, 3rd and 4th) underlines it: "It's a big month of January that awaits us." With, therefore, a trip to the Metropolitan Stadium and another to Lannemezan (on the 28th). Between the two, the derby will be played against Bédarrides (on the 20th) at the Kaufmann stadium, with the desire displayed, for the Nîmes, to remain intractable on their lawn where they have not lost a single match in 2023… A year concluded by three victories in a row (La Seyne, Aubenas and Mâcon). "Three high-pressure matches" well negotiated, even if, for the Nîmes coach, there is no question of getting excited: "We must remain humble and work to maintain this dynamic."

Same story from the presidency. "The sporting results are currently in line with the roadmap. The objective has not changed. He is in a position to be able to play the title" , recalls Steve Calligaro. Sine qua non condition for moving up to National. The second ticket is played between the finalist of Nationale 2 and the penultimate of Nationale (like the Top 14 and ProD2).

& quot;It may seem presumptuous but the RCN is one of the four or five teams that can apply for this climb. This group has the potential. The championship formula makes the climb very complicated but not believing in us would be a mistake, continues the strong man of the club. Afterwards, the beauty and cruelty of our sport mean that it is the final phases which determine the outcome of the season."

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