Pro D2 Semi-Finals: Vannes and Béziers Clash for Top 14 Promotion

Exciting Clashes in Pro D2 Semi-Finals Announced

This weekend sees two crucial Pro D2 semi-final matches that will determine which clubs advance to the finals and have a shot at promotion to the Top 14. On Thursday at 9 p.m., Provence Rugby is set to host FC Grenoble at Maurice-David Stadium. Provence Rugby, which finished the season at the top of the table with 95 points and twenty victories out of thirty matches, is the clear favorite. However, Grenoble, which concluded their season strongly and recently achieved a resounding victory over Dax (58-10) in the play-offs, is expected to present a stiff challenge.

Meanwhile, on Friday night, RC Vannes will face Béziers at the Rabine stadium in what promises to be a nail-biting affair. Vannes, the first Breton club to play at the professional level, is aiming to reach the final for the first time. They boast a compelling record this season, including a resounding 40-18 win and a 20-20 draw against Béziers in their league confrontations. Furthermore, Vannes has not lost to Béziers since March 2022, and with the support of 11,500 fans, they hope to extend this streak.

Béziers, on the other hand, has been absent from the French rugby union's top tier for nearly two decades. Despite their illustrious history with eleven championship titles, they have failed to secure promotion in recent years, including a notable setback in the play-offs in 2018. Béziers narrowly edged out Brive in the play-offs (33-31), and they must elevate their game significantly to triumph over Vannes. A victory would take them a step closer to reclaiming their former glory.

The stakes are high, and the outcomes of these semi-finals will determine which teams advance to the final on Saturday, June 8 in Toulouse. The winner of the final will earn promotion to the Top 14, while the loser will have to face Montpellier, the 13th-ranked team in the Top 14, in a home play-off to fight for their place in the top division.