Nissa Rugby's hard-won promotion to Pro D2 was blocked on Friday by A2R, French rugby's financial regulator, which found the club had not provided sufficient financial guarantees to support a professional season.
The club had earned its place on the pitch, beating Stade Montois 31-26 in May's promotion play-off. But A2R's disciplinary panel, acting on behalf of the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, found a shortfall of around 4.5 million euros in guaranteed funding against a total budget of roughly 10 million euros. Nissa Rugby now has fifteen days to appeal, with Mont-de-Marsan standing ready to be promoted in its place should the decision stand.
In a statement, the club's leadership said their intention to appeal was aimed at giving Niçois rugby a chance to survive, and pledged additional financial commitment from shareholders to offset a shortfall caused by the absence of a planned 1,400-seat hospitality stand. The club also welcomed the Nice municipality's decision to bring in Jean-Pierre Rivère, former OGC Nice president and special adviser to mayor Éric Ciotti, to help find a lasting solution.
The crisis compounds the resignation of the club's two top directors on July 17, and threatens the contracts of a rebuilt international roster brought in specifically for a Pro D2 campaign, including Welsh fly-half Owen Williams, Fijian international Waisea Nayacalevu and head coach Gareth Baber, formerly of the Fiji national side.