American football is experiencing growing popularity in France, and Nice is no exception. The Nice Dolphins, the flagship club of the region, play a central role in this expansion.
Founded in 1999 by Jean-Luc Donivar, the club has made a name for itself in the sports scene of Nice and France. The Dolphins have seen impressive progress since their creation. In 2007, the club won the French Division 2 Championship, which allowed them to reach the first division. Since then, they have continued to strengthen and attract new talents, including two players from the United States like Sam Gozelski and Chris Stoneman. Despite a mixed season, the assistant head coach Kevin Le Tallec admits, “we want the group to progress, we have given ourselves 3 years for the team to grow.”
A Season of Transition
After losing several players from their squad, the Nice Dolphins remain united. Enzo Beaulieu, the team captain and Safety, states, “it’s a difficult season we’re going through, we aim to maintain.” Despite having worried a few teams, notably the Toulouse Bears, Enzo continues, “if we continue on this path, we can aim for the playoffs.” Alexis Avenard, the other captain and Linebacker, adds, “we are a good group, we’re challenging teams; despite our 4 losses, everything is still possible, the season is not over.”
A Promising Future
With encouraging results, the Dolphins are well-positioned to continue developing American football in Nice. The club regularly organizes sessions to promote the sport. To recruit new players, they organize a tryout day to integrate the team. Kevin Le Tallec admits, “at the Dolphins, we want to develop an average player to push them as high as possible.” The assistant head coach hopes this club can inspire younger people to come and try this sport. “The club’s role is to offer the people of Nice diversity in the accessibility of different sports.” Indeed, Nice is a very sporty city and must offer several choices of sporting activities. In the meantime, you can come and support the Dolphins at the Stade des Arboras on Saturday evenings.
