That's the magic of rugby. You can fly over your championship, but you still have to go through the finals to win a title. And in the exercise, Oyonnax did not miss, this Saturday evening at the Ernest-Wallon stadium in Toulouse. Winner of Grenoble (14-3) in a very forgettable Pro D2 final, the Ain club especially obtains its accession to the Top 14, five years after leaving it.


THE TRY OF THE WIN FOR @OyonnaxRugby! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/IGGRFEK2nl

— CANAL+ Rugby (@CanalplusRugby) May 27, 2023

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At the time, "Oyo" had lost the play-off (22-47) against the same opponent Isère, who had thus reached the elite. This time, the team coached by Joe El Abd has respected the logic, after having wandered during the 30 days of regular phase, concluded with 24 points ahead of its runner-up Grenoble.

Grenoble against Perpignan or Pau to go up too

He can still hope to accompany his tormentor of the evening in the elevator, provided he wins next weekend his play-off, at home, against the 13th of the Top 14. His opponent will be known at the end of the final day, Sunday evening (most likely Perpignan, even if Pau is not yet out of the woods).

Oyonnax will try to survive in the elite of French rugby, where it will represent the smallest town with its 22,000 inhabitants. This is his third move to this level after 2013-2016 and 2017-2018. Then coached by the emblematic Christophe Urios, now in Clermont, the "Oyomen" had the best season in their history in 2014-2015: sixth place in the Top 14, short defeat in the play-off in Toulouse (20-19) and qualification for the great European Cup.

  • Rugby
  • Sport
  • Oyonnax
  • Grenoble
  • Isère
  • Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  • Rhône-Alpes
  • Top 14
  • Pro D2