France’s Top 14 clubs are currently pretty quiet. There’s some news of player moves, and updates on planned preseason friendlies in August ahead of a hoped-for return to action in early September. Look just one league lower, however, and it’s a noticeably different story.
The ProD2 is without doubt the strongest second-tier league in Europe. It is the current home of former top flight giants Perpignan, Biarritz and Beziers – not to mention Oyonnax, Grenoble and Montauban. It’s also home to rising sides from beyond French rugby’s traditional heartlands. Va...