AFTER a difficult week for English club rugby, it is both instructive and a little chastening to look over La Manche where, on the eve of Rugby World Cup 2023, they are preparing to launch a fourth national league.
Taking its place behind the Top 14, the Pro D2 and Nationale 1, the new 24-team Nationale 2 will launch on September 2. It essentially consists of the 22 teams from Federale 1 last season and two sides that finished bottom of Nationale 1 -RC Aubenas and Stade Dijonnais.
The moot point is that Federale 1 was formerly considered the peak of the amatuer game in France but tea...