Owen Williams' 14-point haul sends Nissa Rugby back to ProD2 after edging Stade Montois

Nissa Rugby earned promotion to the Pro D2 with a hard-fought 31-26 victory over Stade Montois in the promotion/relegation barrage playoff at Stade Marcel Volot, sending the Côte d’Azur club back to the second tier just one year after dropping to Nationale. For Stade Montois, the defeat means relegation to the French third division for the first time since 1998.

Stade Montois, who had finished second to last in this season’s Pro D2, made the brighter start when former French U20 international Alexandre de Nardi crossed for a try inside the opening five minutes. Nissa hit back through Zimbabwean prop Farai Mudariki and Romanian centre Atila Septar, with former Wales international Owen Williams converting one of the scores. Despite a short-lived Montois comeback, Williams’ reliable boot gave Nissa a 21-19 lead at half-time.

The second half remained tense. Williams added a long-range penalty before Stade Montois drew level again, Georgia No.8 Ioane Iashagashvili brushing off several tacklers to score. With promotion on the line, Nissa pressed hard for the decisive score, and it was another Welsh import who delivered it. Former Dragons and Scarlets centre Tyler Morgan broke through a clutch of defenders to put Nissa back in front for the final time.

Stade Montois could not find a way back, their cause undermined by poor ball management and ill discipline in the closing stages. Williams finished the match with 14 points, a contribution that proved central to Nissa’s victory.

Off the pitch, the result marks the first significant milestone for chairman Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, who purchased the club in 2024 after previously serving as president of Biarritz. Under his stewardship, the club also rebranded from Nice Rugby to Nissa Rugby, and the Nice city council has approved plans for a new stadium to be completed by 2029.

For Stade Montois, the road ahead looks uncertain. Several of the club’s key players are expected to leave this summer, meaning relegation may signal the start of a significant rebuild for the Mont-de-Marsan side.