France’s PRO D2 starts tonight (Thursday) with a meeting between the two relegated sides from the Top 14, Agen and Bayonne.
A full list of Round 1 fixtures can be found here >>
Agen are still reeling from the worst season in Top 14 history – they failed to win a single game and were relegated with six games to go.
Tough-tackling Georgian Jaba Bregvadze should make a decent impact but it would take something remarkable for them to be challenging for promotion, hence their odds of 14/1 (Paddy Power) to win the Grand Final.
In the last five seasons of PRO D2 rugby, only once has a relegated side failed to finish the regular season in the top three. That other side was Bayonne, who finished eighth in 2017/18, but were promoted the season after.
The Basque team were in the relatively healthy position of ninth when the 2019/20 Top 14 season was cancelled due to COVID-19 but last season nine wins – as many as Montpellier and one more than Pau – was not enough to keep them in the elite.
Bayonne are still a Top 14 team in all but name and those in the know in French rugby, do not expect anything other than a Bayonne-Vannes final.
Despite relegation and interest from elsewhere, Yannick Bru is staying on as Bayonne head coach and, hopefully, lead the even money favourites back to the promised land as champions.
Ex-internationals Yann David (centre) and Isaia Toeava (full-back) will add considerable experience to the back line, while Uzair Cassiem and Shaun Venter have been quality performers in the United Rugby Championship (formerly PRO14) for a number of years.
It was a case of close but no cigar for Vannes last year, but they will expect to justify their joint second-favourites tag of 5/1 and go beyond the semi-finals this time around.
A lot could depend on how well the team from Brittany cope with a tough start that sees them take on Nevers, Grenoble, Bayonne, mont de Marsan and Oyonnax in the first five games.
Oyonnax are also 5/1 and will be tough to beat and Grenoble won’t be far off as they look to add to their solitary PRO D2 title of 2012.
Oyonnax lifted the trophy for the first time the following year and won it again in 2017. That said, neither team has set the world on fire with their recruitment.
In terms of outside bets, Provence (22/1) might cause a few surprises.
It will be interesting to see what coach Mauricio Reggiardo does in his first full season in charge, and with an improved squad.
Following last season’s disappointing 13th place finish, they are bolstered by the arrival of experienced campaigners such as Peter Betham (Clermont) and Eroni Sau (Edinburgh).
