With a quarter of the Pro D2 season already played, Courtney Lawes’ CA Brive sit in second place, just two points away from reaching the top. The former Northampton Saints and England star has played a significant role in Brive’s positive start to the season, but how big of an impact has he had? Let’s dig in and find out what the numbers and data tell us.
An ex-All Black, former Springbok and ex-F1 team boss are poised to take over the storied French club.
Watch some of France’s finest domestic sides collide in Pro D2, which is the second division of French rugby.
The French Pro D2 is known for providing exciting action, jaw-dropping tries and bone-crunching tackles. Excited to watch some French Pro D2 rugby this year? Well, from player updates and news stories to upcoming matches, standings and results, you’ll discover everything you need to know about the competition right here at RugbyPass.
The French Pro D2 was founded in 2000. Today, it’s the world's best-supported second tier rugby union league in terms of attendance.
Every year, 16 teams compete across 30 rounds of competition with one aim: gaining promotion to the Top 14, the top league of rugby union in France.
At the end of each Pro D2 season, the top six sides qualify for the play-offs. The winner of the play-offs is automatically promoted to the Top 14. Meanwhile, the runner-up enters a play-off with the second-from-bottom Top 14 team. The winner of this match then takes the final place in the Top 14.
At the other end of the Pro D2 rugby table, the team that finishes bottom is automatically relegated to the Nationale, which is the third tier of French rugby. The second-from-bottom side plays in a relegation play-off against the team that finishes as the runner-up in the Nationale. The winner of this battle takes the final place in Pro D2.
