This Saturday, Stade Niçois kicks off a new season in the Nationale, with an away game in Périgueux. Mariano Taverna, the forwards coach at the club, takes the opportunity to reflect on the pre-season preparation. He also discusses the goals set for this new season.
“We conducted two training camps, one for integration at the beginning of June and another more focused on rugby, which we held two weeks after the start of training. We had a preparation without any hitches, with few players unavailable,” summarizes Mariano Taverna, who has been the forwards coach at Stade Niçois since this summer. The pre-season is coming to an end. Serious matters now await the Niçois with the start of the Nationale this weekend.
“We have created a group with a mix of experience, players coming from higher leagues, but also young players and those coming from lower leagues like Nationale 2,” explains the forwards coach. The off-season was eventful, with no fewer than twenty-three new players joining Stade Niçois. The preparation helped to integrate them into the group as best as possible.
Aiming for the Top 6
The preparation went smoothly or almost. Stade Niçois played only one friendly match instead of the two initially planned. One of their opponents couldn’t fulfill their commitment due to financial issues. “We had a friendly canceled nearly the day before the match. We couldn’t find an alternative solution. One friendly match is somewhat limited. We lack a bit of competitive rhythm,” laments Mariano Taverna.
The club has set ambitious goals, aiming for a spot in the top 6 of the Nationale. “It’s the focal point of the season to try to qualify for the playoffs. A home playoff game would be the ultimate for us,” estimates Mariano Taverna. But for that, he emphasizes taking steps one at a time. “We have to focus on the first step. We start with a series of five away games. We want to stay focused on team performance, achieving together,” highlights the forwards coach.
“The level rises year after year”
The team is therefore competing once again in the Nationale this year. It is the third professional division of French rugby. “It was created three years ago now, after the COVID period. We find the top clubs from Fédérale 1 here. It is still a step before Pro D2 (second division). Many former professional players come to bring their experience to Nationale. It is a very competitive championship,” confirms the Niçois coach.
First step this Saturday, August 26, in Périgueux for Stade Niçois. The match kicks off at 6 PM. “It will be a very tough, very hard match. Périgueux had an excellent preparation,” reveals Mariano Taverna. A major first test awaits the Niçois in this 2023/2024 season.
