Périgueux to be competitive?

[Melhor Time]

Its pretty clear that the Pro d2 is on its way up. Its been said that the quality of rugby is not like thew Top 14 but it is just as physical. Thats open to debate but one thing that is pretty evident is that the Pro d2 is increasingly becoming more international with players of international standard. Even with French players as Huget was in the Pro d2 the season before playing for France.

Périgueux is back in the pro d2 after winning promotion from the Fédérale 1 and the club has been active in signing some handy players. For instance:

USA backrower, Iñaki Basauri

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2011/08/inaki-basauri-to-play-for-perigueux.html

and Argentina centre, Horacio San Martín who joins from Aironi

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2011/08/horacio-san-martin-signs-for-perigueux.html

Some other players worth pointing out at the club are Mosese Moala (Tonga), Iliesa Keresoni (Fiji), Alexander Margvelashvili and Tedo Zibzibadze (Georgia), Augustin Petrechei and Samuel Maris (Romania) and Gautier Gibouin (Spain). All are capped internationals. While other players arriving are Dustin Cooper (Australia) Ryan Wilson (New Zealand). Adrien Ayestaran (Biarritz), Hugo Rongeiras (Auch), Xavier Nauleau (Pays d´Aix), Nicolas Brindel (La Rochelle) Nicolas Sisombath (Limoges), Julien Gaultier (Bègles/Bordeaux)

Périgueux is your typical French rugby town with a population of around 30,000 and so is similar to many Pro d2 teams. It is, however, to be the only pro team in the département of Dordogne which has a population of 400,000. So, there is, on paper, reason to say this team has the making to survive in the Pro d2 and build towards promotion to the Top 14 in a few seasons.

 

[M Two One]

International players in Pro D2 and Fédérale 1 are nothing new. Ups to Périgueux for gaining promotion back to professional rugby as it was a long time coming.