AMATEUR - Evolving in Fédérale 2, the Stade Niçois Rugby is about to be bought by a Scottish company to encourage the emergence of young Caledonian players.
In partnership with the insurance company Allianz, which owns the naming of the Nice stadium, the Niçois Stadium will be bought out by September by a Scottish company with the support of the Scottish Rugby Union. The goal ? Allow young Scottish players under the age of 23, who do not have a specific championship, to compete in high competition. Each year, 8 to 9 players will thus evolve in the stadium of Nice. The Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, met with the President of the Scottish Federation and is a member of the project. It should also be noted that the Scots will also set up their national team training camp at 7 in Nice.
Original source: http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/federale- ... tory.shtml
AMATEUR - Evoluant en Fédérale 2, le Stade niçois Rugby est sur le point d'être racheté par une société écossaise pour favoriser l'émergence des jeunes joueurs calédoniens.
En partenariat avec la société d'assurance Allianz, société qui possède le naming du stade de Nice, le Stade niçois va être racheté d'ici le mois de septembre par une société écossaise qui bénéficie du soutien de la Scottish Rugby Union. Le but ? Permettre aux jeunes joueurs écossais de moins de 23 ans, qui n'ont pas de championnat spécifique, de venir s'aguerrir dans une compétition relevée. Chaque année, 8 à 9 joueurs évolueront ainsi dans l'effectif du Stade niçois. Le Maire de Nice, Christian Estrosi, a rencontré le Président de la Fédération écossaise et est partie prenante du projet. A noter enfin que les Ecossais installeront également à Nice leur camp d'entraînement de l'équipe nationale à 7.
Last edited by Adder on Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Suprising move by the SRU. Interesting that they will use Nice for the 7s training camp. Fedederal 2 is fierce mind you. I wonder what the investment is worth.
Big D wrote:Depending on the financials this could be a longer term benefit. I assume they could in theory get promoted eventually to the top divisions?
Will the standard at that level be better than Prem 1?
I wonder if this will lead to some sponsor deal with Allianz in the future?
I think there are big projects for that team. It's very prestigious for a town to have a good Rugby club, and Estrosi , the local mayor is involved.
Toulon gets their young (French qualified) players from the Nice Academy. Hard to compare the standards, but Federal 2 is a punch fest.
First players in Scottish Rugby-Nice exchange revealed
The first signing under the arrangement was Peter Murchie.
The first players in an innovative exchange agreement signed in May by Scottish Rugby and the French fourth tier club Stade Nicois have been revealed. Keep up to date with all our sport news on The Scotsman’s Sport page on Facebook However, Scottish Rugby has refuted claims made on a French website that the scheme could lead to full ownership of the Nice-based club by a Scottish consortium, backed by the governing body, before the start of the season. Nice president, Patrice Prevot, was reported last week to have said that Scottish Rugby had invested money in the French club, and in return would place several players with them each season. Describing the set-up, Prevot said: “The SRU were looking for partners on the continent. The discussions took 13 months. It’s a long-term arrangement. The Scottish Rugby Union decided to invest as a major partner alongside the Allianz Group which has just extended its partnership for five years. In addition to the financial support, which matches that of Allianz, the SRU will make available young internationals looking to develop, as well as experienced players. The partnership should also make it possible to form links and operate exchanges.” The first signing under the arrangement was Peter Murchie, the former Glasgow Warriors full back whose contract with the Scotstoun-based side was not renewed at the end of last season. The 31-year-old had spent eight years at the club and during that time earned three Scotland caps. Others confirmed to be joining Nice are Scottish rugby contracted age group caps Josh Henderson, who will vie with Italian international Luciano Orquero for the stand off berth, and back row Bruce Flockhart – both members of the Glasgow Warriors academy – as well as London Scottish hooker David Cherry, who has spent the past three seasons with the Exiles. Another making the switch is another back rower, Tyrone Holmes, who played for Newcastle Falcons last year after being released by Glasgow Warriors, having earned a Scottish cap against South Africa in 2014.
Nice Rugby has existed in its current form since 2012 and currently operates in Federale Division 2 with a budget of €1.4 million for the coming season. The club’s stated ambition is to reach Pro D2, the fully professional second division, by 2021. A Scottish Rugby spokesman stated that the ambition of the club to progress through the divisions and the opportunity for players to operate in a different environment were more important than Nice’s current level. He likened the arrangement to existing tie-ups elsewhere, saying, “We are looking to place players into a variety of different environments, at different levels. For younger players it is to broaden their experiences and for those reaching the end of their careers to provide pathways into coaching. In return we can provide opportunities in Scotland for players from other countries. Our arrangement with Stade Nicois is consistent with our recent activity with Western Force in Australia, Western Province in South Africa, Lille and London Scottish.” Women’s international Jade Konkel joined Lille, while Edinburgh lock Lewis Carmichael spent time on loan with Western Force. Claims in the French media that the terms of the deal will also allow Scotland’s sevens squad to use the facilities in Nice as its training base have also been dismissed as inaccurate by Scottish Rugby which has no plans to change existing arrangements at Oriam and Ravenscraig.
Nice has a lot of potential: Money, big Population for support with great transport links, Political will and ambition.
A good Rugby School for some younger players as they fight for promotion. (why Murchie though? Future coaching opportunity?). Salary at that level should be around 2k euros (+ numerous bonuses0 which will be decent in that area of the Country.
Only odd as in it is something a bit different. There are a few potential positives from this. Especially if they move up through the leagues to Pro2. It also suggests
New environment for younger players who may not see game time in Scotland and is different from punting them off to Prem1 (or whatever its called these days).
Potential coaching experience for retiring players.
Getting into any sort of partnership with Allianz is potentially positive.
If the SRU are investing money and this works then that investment will be worth more.
Cameo wrote:I find this wierd if they are actually paying Nice anything. Id rather they invest in Prem 1
They have tried, numerous times to increase the level of Prem 1. They already have a few (most?) of the Prem 1 coaches doing the UKCC4 qualification, they release players regularly etc.
The difficulty is getting the focus on a core group to raise overall standards. Clubs are understandably concerned with No.1 rather than Scottish Rugby's overall plans. The SRU tried to get an 8 team top league competition where it could help focus investment and it was shot down:
SRU to fund an elite game group (EGG) of clubs that will use some contracted semi professional players, who will also provide coaching services.
League of eight clubs, to be called the Scottish Super League (SSL), to be governed by an advisory committee made up of members of the SRU Board and representatives of the clubs.
By taking these steps with Nice and sending players to Oz (if that continues) it takes players out of their comfort zone and I guess eventually with Nice should they progress, surround Scottish talent with French/others players for them to learn off.
I thought this was a bit odd but the more i think of it the more it seems to be fitting into the wider message SRU is pushing of engagement and providing a greater level of education and life experiance to the players
Cameo wrote:I find this wierd if they are actually paying Nice anything. Id rather they invest in Prem 1
They have tried, numerous times to increase the level of Prem 1. They already have a few (most?) of the Prem 1 coaches doing the UKCC4 qualification, they release players regularly etc.
The difficulty is getting the focus on a core group to raise overall standards. Clubs are understandably concerned with No.1 rather than Scottish Rugby's overall plans. The SRU tried to get an 8 team top league competition where it could help focus investment and it was shot down:
SRU to fund an elite game group (EGG) of clubs that will use some contracted semi professional players, who will also provide coaching services.
League of eight clubs, to be called the Scottish Super League (SSL), to be governed by an advisory committee made up of members of the SRU Board and representatives of the clubs.
By taking these steps with Nice and sending players to Oz (if that continues) it takes players out of their comfort zone and I guess eventually with Nice should they progress, surround Scottish talent with French/others players for them to learn off.
Id agree with some of that but I'd say that their attempts to inprove prem 1 have been largely succesful. Some clubs are basically semi pro, most have good coaches and some are even growing
Cameo wrote:I find this wierd if they are actually paying Nice anything. Id rather they invest in Prem 1
They have tried, numerous times to increase the level of Prem 1. They already have a few (most?) of the Prem 1 coaches doing the UKCC4 qualification, they release players regularly etc.
The difficulty is getting the focus on a core group to raise overall standards. Clubs are understandably concerned with No.1 rather than Scottish Rugby's overall plans. The SRU tried to get an 8 team top league competition where it could help focus investment and it was shot down:
SRU to fund an elite game group (EGG) of clubs that will use some contracted semi professional players, who will also provide coaching services.
League of eight clubs, to be called the Scottish Super League (SSL), to be governed by an advisory committee made up of members of the SRU Board and representatives of the clubs.
By taking these steps with Nice and sending players to Oz (if that continues) it takes players out of their comfort zone and I guess eventually with Nice should they progress, surround Scottish talent with French/others players for them to learn off.
Id agree with some of that but I'd say that their attempts to improve prem 1 have been largely succesful. Some clubs are basically semi pro, most have good coaches and some are even growing
The SRU have done a good job but they have tried to make Prem1 a higher quality league but have been shot down. I am not sure realistically what the can do that would get passed by a majority of member clubs.
Think this is a positive move that may not even be a big financial investment from the SRU. Getting to Pro2 would be great for some players to get involved in.