Latest news with #ProD2
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Rugby fans storm pitch and fight as top players chased into dressing room
Rugby fans storm pitch and fight as top players chased into dressing room 15 riot police attempted to break up the violence as players fled to safety Grenoble and Perpignan fans stormed the pitch after their huge Top 14 promotion play-off match and traded blows in ugly scenes. The two teams had clashed for a place in the Top 14 next season before chaos erupted and players fled to the sanctuary of the dressing room. Grenoble, who Welsh international Sam Davies plays for, lost the match 13-11, but it's the behaviour of fans that's become the story. Footage published by Ovalie Media on X shows fans appearing to throw punches and kicks as others attempt to dispel the chaos. Fifteen French riot police officers (known as CRS), holding shields and wearing helmets, took to the field to calm things down. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Perpignan president Francois Riviere confirmed supporters allegedly chased Perpignan players into the changing rooms after the game. He said: "I had two players chased all the way to the locker room entrance. "They were guys who were in the locker room area, a controlled zone, but who wanted to fight my players. Article continues below "It's incredible, I've never seen anything like it! While the Grenoble staff were perfect and very kind." A wider view of the violence can be viewed below. Content cannot be displayed without consent Riviere added: "I am sorry for this atmosphere, which is not (a good) one. I have rarely seen such hostility in my career. "I was struck by this atmosphere, struck to see that you had CRS (riot police) who were forced to enter a rugby field wearing helmets. "My shirt was completely stained with blood, because I came to help supporters in difficulty! I have never seen anything like that." Article continues below For Wales international and former Dragons fly-half Davies, the loss was a second blow in as many weeks, after losing the initial Pro D2 play-off match against Montauban, who will play Top 14 rugby next season. It's three seasons in a row, now, that Grenoble have lost out on promotion. It comes as an even more frustrating outcome considering that they topped the Pro D2 with 98 points, 21 more than Montauban. Davies' electric performances have captured the French second division and his services have reportedly attracted interest from other clubs in Europe, although he signed a new deal with the club in January.
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as crushed Davies left speechless and England star's career ends in 'embarrassment to game'
Today's rugby news as crushed Davies left speechless and England star's career ends in 'embarrassment to game' The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Dan Cole of Leicester Tigers looks dejected as he walks off the pitch (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) These are your latest rugby headlines on Monday, June 16 Devastated Davies has 'no words' Sam Davies says he has "no words" after experiencing play-off heartbreak with Grenoble again, with a narrow defeat to Perpignan on Saturday consigning his side to another season in the second tier of French rugby. Having suffered a shock loss to Montauban in the Pro D2 play-off final last week, the Welsh fly-half's side had a chance were given another opportunity to win promotion as they took on Perpignan - who finished 13th in the Top 14 - in an 'Access Match' play-off. However, there was to be more heartbreak for Davies' side as they fell to a 13-11 defeat to the top-flight side, meaning they will play in the Pro D2 again next season even after finishing top of the league during the regular campaign. The eight-cap Wales international, who made the move to France in 2023, has had another remarkable season for Grenoble, lighting up the league with a series of standout performances. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. But it is another crushing disappointment for the 31-year-old, having also lost out in the Access Match last year, at the end of his first season with the French side. Remarkably, it is the third time in as many seasons that Grenoble have suffered double play-off heartbreak, with the frustration and disappointment etched on the faces of the players when the full-time whistle sounded on Saturday. Article continues below And Davies has now taken to Instagram to share a short but defiant message, as he expressed his disappointment as well as his desire to take his side to the top of French rugby one day. "No words for right now," he wrote, as he shared a photo of himself in action against Perpignan. "We will be back!" England star yellow card an 'embarrassment to the game' Retiring prop Dan Cole admitted it will be tough not to rue the 'what ifs' after his rugby career ended in the sin bin during Saturday's 23-21 Premiership final loss to Bath at the Allianz Stadium. Bath clung on after two late Leicester tries dialled up the drama at Twickenham, where Johann van Graan's men clinched their first Premiership title in 29 years and an historic treble. Cole – who made over 340 appearances for his boyhood club Leicester – was controversially sin-binned in the 69th minute for a charge down on Finn Russell, allowing the Scot to slot in three crucial points, though a rare penalty miss from South African World Cup winner Handre Pollard earlier in the half might have also altered the outcome. Leicester coach Michael Cheika was fuming about the Cole decision, and the refereeing of Karl Dickson in general, saying: '[I was] just upset with the decisions on the field. The scrum we were dominating – obvious ones, not 50-50s. The scrum we were dominating completely. A couple of head knocks, a couple of balls where we could have got penalties there easily. '[We had] two men in the bin, [and] the second one [was] for nothing, really. It is embarrassing for the game that a player goes off for that. I'm allowed to be angry, but I got over it and am happy to accept the result now and get on with the next thing.' Cole said: 'It's not about me, but did I think the end of my career would go out on a charge down, end up in the sin bin? No. 'Yeah, it's tough to say that penalty leads to us losing the game, so it's one of those. 'You spend all your career thinking 'what if?' and it will be one of those, but I say, you actually look at the effort we put in as a team, as a group of players, as a squad, considering 12 months ago we were eighth and couldn't buy a win, and now you look at this, we've come together, Cheiks (Michael Cheika) has forged us in one direction, we've overcome some tough times. 'You don't get the fairy-tale ending, but actually to be part of something, you can go into that room in 10 years' time and meet the guys, look them in the eye and go, 'be proud of your efforts', and that's what it comes down to.' Cole is the second-most capped England men's player with 118, behind Leicester team-mate Ben Youngs, who has 127 and has also called time on his career. Stars fly in to join Lions squad Andy Farrell is set to receive a boost today with several missing players expected to fly in to Dublin and finally join up with the rest of the British & Irish Lions squad. The Lions get their action-packed summer under way on Friday as they take on Argentina in their first warm-up match before flying out to Australia, having been training in Portugal last week. However, the first week of training was done with 16 members of the 38-man squad missing as they prepared for the finals of the United Rugby Championship and Gallagher Premiership. Farrell is set to welcome some key members back to his squad from today Despite not being named in Farrell's squad, England duo Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour flew out to Portugal after being called in to plug gaps in training. However, at least some of those 16 absent members are set to join up with the squad later today, with Scotland star Finn Russell among them having won the Gallagher Premiership title with Bath on Saturday. 'I'm flying on Monday," he said after beating Leicester in a dramatic final at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. "I've not won much in my career, the last time I won a title like this was 10 years ago, so I'm going to make sure I enjoy it. On joining the Lions squad, Russell added: 'I'm looking forward to the challenge that comes. Everyone is fighting for these Test spots, and then it's not just getting a Test, it's winning them. Every session and game before that counts. 'It's been in the back of my mind since I was named, but we've had trophies to win with Bath which we've gone and done - but the focus from tomorrow is the Lions. How do I get myself ready for what's coming? 'When you get there, it's the best of the best, so you have to be on it every day and take your chance when it comes." Scarlets star edges closer to dream Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe is edging closer to winning his first cap for South Africa after surviving Rassie Erasmus' squad cut over the weekend. The Springboks boss has released 11 players from his initial 55-man squad and brought in just one - Edinburgh prop Boan Venter - ahead of his side's summer international fixtures. Venter has been drafted in following injuries to front row options Gerhard Steenekamp and Ntuthuko Mchunu, while centre Lukhanyo Am, utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, and No.8s Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus have all also been released due to injury. Another five players – Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Quan Horn, Renzo du Plessis and Ntokozo Makhaza – have also returned to their respective club sides. However, van der Merwe has survived the cull and is now hoping to make his first international appearance after a fine campaign for Dwayne Peel's side saw him named in the URC Team of the Season. 'Our first week of training went well, and it offered us a chance to assess our depth and measure the level at which the players are currently, with an eye on the international season,' said Erasmus. 'We also took stock of the injuries and determined in which positions we needed cover, as well as those in which we have sufficient cover. 'There are a number of players out with long-term injuries, while others are set to return from injury in the next few weeks or months, so they will complete their rehabilitation at their clubs and franchises. "In terms of the other players released, we feel we have good cover in those positions at this stage, but they are all on standby to join us at any time if we need to call on them." It comes after 28-year-old van der Merwe told the Scarlets that he dreamt of representing the Springboks on the international stage. 'I think as a child, any South African watching the game, with the Springboks doing well, everyone wants to play for that team, just like people in Wales who grew up watching their team,' he said. 'So everyone wants to play for their nation. It's definitely a thing I am going for, but I focus on the next thing which is helping the Scarlets where I can. Then, through that, I hope the Springbok coaches can see what I bring and see that I have the talent to be there. Article continues below 'My goal is to get into international rugby. Everyone hopes for that. I just go out and play the best I can every single day. Hopefully that's enough.'
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Today's rugby news as Wales international left heartbroken again and new cap reveals tearful phone call
Today's rugby news as Wales international left heartbroken again and new cap reveals tearful phone call The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world Sam Davies of Grenoble during the Top 14 Access Match between Grenoble and Perpignan (Image: Getty Images ) Here are your rugby headlines for Sunday, June 15. Sam Davies heartbreak after play-off defeat Sam Davies was left heartbroken once again after his Grenoble side were narrowly beaten by Perpignan in the play-off match for a spot in France's Top 14 next season. Grenoble were defeated in the Pro D2 play-off final against Montauban last week, however they were granted another opportunity for promotion in what is called the 'Top 14 Access Match' – a play-off between the runners-up and the 13th-placed team in the Top 14. However, Wales international Davies, who has been sensational for Grenoble this season, was unable to steer his side to victory, with Perpignan coming out 13-11 winners. Perpignan made a flying start, with Tavite Veredamu crossing the line in just the third minute. Grenoble thought they had hit back through winger Wilfried Hulleu, but the officials correctly ruled out two potential tries. Thomas Lainault eventually got Grenoble on the board, and a Davies penalty nudged them into an 8–7 lead at halftime. The second half remained tense and tactical. Tommaso Allan restored Perpignan's advantage with a penalty in the 65th minute, only for Romain Trouilloud to level things up ten minutes later. But Allan had the final say, slotting over a decisive kick two minutes from time to seal the victory and secure Perpignan's place in the Top 14. Article continues below For Grenoble, it's back to the drawing board — yet again — with questions continuing to mount. It's their third promotion play-off defeat in a row. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. Wales prop's dad left in tears Uncapped Wales player Garyn Phillips has revealed that his father was in tears after his call up. The Ospreys front row was one of six players called up by Matt Sherratt who have never played international rugby. Teammates Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams were also given the call. The three Swansea-based players featured in a recent interview on the Welsh Rugby Union's social channels, with Phillips explaining what it was like getting called up for the first time. "I was sat on the settee with my missus," began Phillips. "The first person I told was my old man, gave him a ring and he was a bit teary on the phone. I gave my old girl a call then." Speaking about how he has settled in to camp, Phillips explained that knowing the Ospreys boys has helped him to integrate. "I've played with a lot of the boys before in the U20s and U18s," he continued. "Obviously familiar with Nicky (Smith) and Gar (Thomas) as well. It's been pretty easy to settle in." Join our WalesOnline rugby WhatsApp community here. Leinster crowned URC champions By PA Sport Staff Leinster lifted their first trophy since 2021 after a convincing 32-7 BKT United Rugby Championship grand final win over the Pretoria Bulls at Croke Park. The wet weather failed to deter an attendance of 46,127 - a record for a league decider in Ireland - as Leo Cullen's men became the first table-topping team to win the title in the URC era. Despite Jamison Gibson-Park's pre-match withdrawal, Leinster roared into a 19-0 half-time lead with tries from captain Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier. Beaten finalists in 2022 and 2024, the Bulls crossed in the 50th minute through replacement Akker van der Merwe to cancel out a Sam Prendergast penalty. Prendergast took his haul to 10 points and replacement Fintan Gunne's closing try was fittingly converted by the Gloucester-bound Ross Byrne. Conan pointed the way for the hosts with a fifth-minute try, crashing over following an initial maul and Prendergast quickly converted. Departing All Black Barrett got his right boot to Luke McGrath's deft dink in the 13th minute, opening up the Bulls' back-field to brilliantly score beside the posts. Van der Flier emerged through a maul to make it 19-0, as penalties continued to prove costly for the Bulls. The South Africans finally got some momentum, battering away before Willie le Roux was guilty of a poor kick and then a forward pass. Although Prendergast opened the second-half scoring, the visitors hit back when Van der Merwe drove over for Johan Goosen to convert. It remained 22-7 with the Irish province failing to capitalise on a tap penalty, while Prendergast pushed another one wide. The young fly-half was back on target in the 67th minute and Gunne then scored from a neat wraparound move - a fine finish to the campaign for Leinster's 12 British and Irish Lions representatives. 'Sky's the limit' for Bath after ending 29-year title drought By Rachel Steinberg, PA Bath captain Ben Spencer declared "the sky's the limit" after his side ended a 29-year wait for a Premiership title and secured an historic treble with a 23-21 triumph over Leicester at Allianz Stadium. Leicester came up just short of a fairytale farewell for scrum-half Ben Youngs and prop Dan Cole, who have both called time on their careers after this season and were introduced after the break. Bath held on after a late Tigers surge narrowed the deficit to two points - despite going down to 14 men after Cole was controversially sent to the sin bin - through a late Emeka Ilione try to raise the Twickenham tension. "Just relief, pride," said Spencer, when asked to sum up his feelings. "This has taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people. Relief not just for me, but for the players, the staff, and the fans. The fans are a massive part of why I joined the club. "I think the future of this club is unbelievably bright, no matter who pulls on the shirt. I can't speak highly enough of the guys coming through. Their work ethic is second to none, and as long as we keep our feet on the floor and wanting to get better, the sky's the limit for this team." Bath's tries came from Thomas du Toit and Max Ojomoh on what became a brilliant afternoon for Scotland's Finn Russell, who overcame early frustrations to kick 13 points, also teeing up Ojomoh after snatching an interception from inside his own half. Jack van Poortvliet opened the scoring with a try for Leicester, while second-half tries from Solomone Kata and Ilione nearly sparked a comeback. Handre Pollard added three Leicester conversions but the World Cup-winning South African fly-half will rue what might have been after a rare penalty miss. Tigers twice had men sent to the sin bin - departing captain Julian Montoya late in the first half, while Cole's swansong concluded unceremoniously with a controversial yellow. Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan said: "Our whole focus this season was on winning the Premiership. We gave ourselves that goal, kept that within the circle." The South African coach said he would now pause for a moment of reflection before focusing on next season. He added: "The day you stand still is the day somebody catches you. You must always train like number two because the other guys are coming. The best is yet to come." Article continues below Leicester head coach Michael Cheika - to be replaced by Geoff Parling - will leave this summer at the end of his one-year contract, in addition to Argentina hooker Montoya, Pollard and former England back Mike Brown. And although he felt he would get himself "in strife" for disclosing what he felt about some of the decisions that went against his side - vowing to take it up with the RFU's officiating chief Paul Hull as a "final bit of banter" - Cheika was delighted by his team's resilience and felt the future of the club was bright. He added: "I feel like if we can take those things that are intangible around belief and the standards you need to have to be able to compete, then it won't be long before they are on that podium themselves."
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Top 14: Grenoble slump to third promotion-relegation play-off in a row against gamely Perpignan
Cruelty, thy name is 'Top 14 Access Match'. ProD2 side Grenoble have now hosted — and lost — the last three of these annual winner-takes-all promotion-relegation play-offs against the side that finished 13th in the Top 14, each one coming a week after they lost the ProD2 final. They may have had home advantage on the day, but all the other positives were in favour of opponents Perpignan. Grenoble — leaders at the end of the regular season and strong favourites for promotion — were going back to a depleted well one more time after a numbing defeat against surprise champions Montauban. The Catalans had been plotting their route to Top 14 survival via this match for several weeks — and had a morale-boosting victory over Toulouse on the final night of the regular season to lean on for belief. Perpignan got off to the perfect start, as Tavite Veredamu opened the scoring in the third minute. Grenoble winger Wilfried Hulleu was twice correctly denied what he thought was a score by the match officials before a Thomas Lainault try and a Sam Davies penalty gave them an 8-7 lead at the break. Allan pushed Perpignan back into the lead from the tee in the 65th minute, Romain Trouilloud responded in kind in the 75th minute — but Allan had the final word two minutes from time to take the score to 11-13 and keep the Catalans in the Top 14. Grenoble, meanwhile, return to the drawing board. Again. A rethink is long overdue. Where the access match had been frenetic, the barrage match in the race for the Brennus between Toulon and Castres at Stade Mayol was ferocious until the visitors wilted under the constant pressure at the death. Toulon pounded away in the first half, but only had four Melvyn Jaminet penalties to show for their efforts. Castres were merely two points behind after Abraham Papali'i scored from a 20m tapped free kick in a move most politely described as 'direct'. A brace of tries in two minutes for Melvyn Jaminet — finishing another mesmerising Juita Wainiqolo run — and Baptiste Serin looked to have taken the game out of reach. But Castres found an immediate way back as Jeremy Fernandez benefited from Remy Baget's break on the hour. That was the end of their defiance, however. Quickfire scores for the departing Facundo Isa and Ben White in the closing 10 minutes settled the result, before 43-year-old Ma'a Nonu put the romantic icing on the cake with two minutes to go, and Wainiqolo scored an opportunist try from a quick tap penalty inside Toulon's own half after the hooter. It ended 52-23. Toulon's will play Bordeaux at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon in the second semi-final next Saturday. But that after-the-hooter exuberance may have a price, as Jaminet was helped, wincing off the pitch. They will need him fit for next week. Twenty-four hours earlier, Max Spring scored the only try of the game as Bayonne maintained completed an unbeaten home run this season with a dominant 20-3 win over Clermont on a dark and stormy Friday night at Stade Jean Dauger to set up a semi-final against Toulouse in Lyon exactly a week later. The conditions put paid to a free-flowing match, and the home side handled them much better, playing most of the game in Clermont's half. In truth, it was a shellacking everywhere except on the scoreboard.
France 24
08-06-2025
- Business
- France 24
Stade Francais owner backs Gustard after relegation scare
The 14-time French champions needed a win over Castres on Saturday to confirm their top-flight status after a sluggish campaign Their 21-10 win saw them finish in 12th spot, nine points ahead of bottom side Vannes, who are relegated automatically, but just one point clear of Perpignan. The Catalans will face a play-off with Grenoble, who finished runners-up in ProD2, to see which will play in next season's Top 14. Gustard, who was England's defence coach under Eddie Jones, joined the Parisians in 2022 in the same role. After the sacking of Karim Ghezal in February of this year and the subsequent sidelining of Laurent Labit, the director of rugby, Gustard moved up to head coach. The 49-year-old was linked with a return to Leicester, where he won the Champions Cup as a player, but has now signed a new deal until 2028. "Paul would have stayed even if we had gone down," Wild told French media. "He's an excellent coach. He studied psychology, so he understands the mindset needed," the 83-year-old added. Stade Francais, who have the second highest budget in the Top 14 of 38 million euros ($43 million), won just 10 league games this season, having reached the playoff semi-finals barely 12 months ago. "It was not a good season," Wild said. "This is why we're meeting again on Wednesday to really work on the strategy for next year and what we have to change. "We clearly made mistakes in hiring, we let five or six very good people go, and what we got is nothing, absolutely nothing," he added without naming individual players. 'Flexible' German-born Wild, who is reportedly worth 3.6 billion euros ($4.11 billion) thanks to his soft drinks company Capri-Sun, bought the club in 2017 but said in March he was looking for someone in France to invest in the outfit with him. "I'm too old. That's the problem. I'll be 84 this month. So how long can I do it? "This is a very expensive hobby," he added. Wild denied reports claiming Bernard Arnault, CEO of the LVMH luxury goods conglomerate and France's richest man, was interested in adding the rugby club to Paris FC, the football club he owns. "We have interested people, but they need money," Wild said. "It depends on who it is. You have to be flexible. For next season, Wild, who was present for eight games this campaign, admitted the goal was qualifying for the Champions Cup. There will be changes in Gustard's coaching staff, with ex-France scrum-half Rory Kockott and former England prop Perry Freshwater arriving as his assistants. On the playing squad, they have been strongly linked by the rugby press with former New Zealand scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow and French prop Thierry Paiva, both at La Rochelle, as they look to avoid a repeat of this season's calamity. "If we had signed someone, we're not going to talk about it, yet," Wild said. "Most of the names in the press are wrong. "Whatever you read is all talk, by an agent," he added. © 2025 AFP
