Earlier the same day, La Rochelle will host Toulon at Stade Marcel Deflandre, as the French rugby schedule skirts around the final weekend of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
The day before, Bayonne and Perpignan get the season under way in the early afternoon kick-off at Stade Jean Dauger, while in the evening, losing Top 14 finalists Bordeaux host Stade Francais, the side they beat in last season’s semi-finals at the Matmut Atlantique.
Clermont entertain Pau, Castres face Racing 92, and Montpellier take on Lyon in the other matches on the opening weekend of the new season.
Vannes’ Top 14 debut, at the 11,865-capacity Stade de la Rabine, a ground with a truly astonishing approach in which fans pass through a remarkable 18th-century facade not far from the port, is guaranteed to be a sell-out.
The club’s president, Olivier Cloarec, had to issue a public apology this week after the club’s website crashed under the virtual weight of 50,000 people trying to sign up for a season ticket for the 2024/25 campaign. Bear in mind that Vannes has a population of 54,420 people, according to the 2021 census. Nearly one in five of them attended ProD2 matches last season, as the club averaged home gates of over 10,000.
It looks a lot like the 13 Top 14 home matches will be sell-outs this season – especially if the squad gets off to a decent start.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin July 21, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
