Pro D2 is the second tier of rugby union club competition division in France. It is operated by Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) which also runs the division directly above, the first division Top 14. Rugby Pro D2 was introduced in 2000. It is the world's best supported second tier rugby union league.
Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Rugby Pro D2 season | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Administrator | LNR |
| No. of teams | 16 |
| Country |  France |
| Most recent champion(s) | Oyonnax (3rd title) (2022–23) |
| Most titles | Lyon (3 titles) |
| Level on pyramid | Level 2 |
| Promotion to | Top 14 |
| Relegation to | Nationale |
| Official website | Pro D2 |
Season structure
There are 30 rounds in the regular season, with each team playing each other home and away.
There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Nationale, the third-level competition. The top two clubs at the end of the season qualify automatically for home semi-finals, with the clubs placed 3rd through to 6th playing in an elimination round to advance to the semi-finals. The two winners of the semi-final play each other in the final, with the winner gaining promotion to the Top 14, and the losing finalist then going on to play the 13th placed team in the Top 14 in a promotion-relegation match. The bottom placed (16th) team is automatically relegated to the Nationale division, and the 15th placed team plays the losing finalist from the Nationale division in a promotion-relegation match.
All promotions are contingent on passing a postseason financial audit required for all clubs. Also, if a club above the bottom two places fails the audit, it may be relegated in the place of a club that would otherwise have been relegated. This was especially an issue in the 2015–16 season, when four clubs faced at least the prospect of relegation for financial reasons. During the season, Tarbes were dropped to Fédérale 1 effective with the 2016–17 season, and Biarritz, Bourgoin and Narbonne were also dropped at the end of the season, pending appeals.[1] Ultimately, Biarritz, Bourgoin, and Narbonne all won their appeals and remained in Pro D2.[2][3]
Changes for 2017–18 and beyond
In August 2016, LNR released a strategic plan outlining its vision for French rugby through the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The plan includes significant changes to the top levels of the league system, with Pro D2 seeing especially dramatic changes starting with the 2017–18 season.[4]
- Starting with 2017–18, Pro D2 will adopt a playoff system identical to that of the Top 14, with the top six teams on the league table qualifying. The top two teams receive byes into the semifinals, where they will face the winners of quarterfinal matches involving the remaining four sides.
- Only the Pro D2 champions will be assured of promotion to the Top 14. The losing finalist will enter a playoff with the second-from-bottom Top 14 side, with the winner taking up the final Top 14 place.
Current teams
2022–23 season
PositionTeamPWDLGFGA+/-PTS1RC VANNES271629682441241822PROVENCE RUGBY271728689588101813BÉZIERS271611073463599764GRENOBLE2717010743621122705DAX2715111555619-64696MONT-DE-MARSAN2714112691566125687USON NEVERS271401361655165688BRIVE271311358453945629COLOMIERS RUGBY2712114613585286010VALENCE ROMANS2712015556542145711AURILLAC2712114512661-1495612SU AGEN2712114528650-1225613SOYAUX-ANGOULÊME XV2711214499544-455414BIARRITZ2710017562724-1624915US MONTALBANAISE2710017509680-1714516ROUEN NORMANDIE RUGBY278118518645-12743
Previous seasons
Number of league titles
- Lyon (3)
- Oyonnax (3)
- Auch (2)
- Bayonne (2)
- Montauban (2)
- Toulon (2)
- Perpignan (2)
- Agen (1)
- Grenoble (1)
- Mont-de-Marsan (1)
- Montpellier (1)
- Pau (1)
- Racing Métro (1)
Notes
References
See also
External links
- (in French) Rugby Pro D2 – Official website
- (in French) Midi Olympique