FFR president visits USON's new center

The president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Florian Grill, visited the new performance center of USON in Nevers on Friday during a Pro D2 match between USON and SU Agen at Pré Fleuri. He joined Régis Dumange, president of USO Nevers, and Jean-François Fonteneau, president of SU Agen, for the event, where the three officials held a long discussion on the presidential tribune.

SU Agen wins decisively

The match saw SU Agen win comfortably with a score of 7-38, securing a bonus point victory. USON, which has not yet won a match this season, remains at the bottom of the second division. After the game, Grill visited the new performance center in Nevers alongside Christian Poulalier, president of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Rugby League.

Grill praises the new center

On social media, Grill described the visit as "particularly memorable." He praised the alignment between the club's vision and its investments, noting that the center reflects the club's recent development, which he described as "simple, without ostentation, but incredibly functional." The facility is designed for rugby-specific training, with innovative features like a staff office that functions as a "real control tower" with views of the field.

Future plans for stadium and region

Grill mentioned that the center will also benefit the Espoirs (youth teams) and the local rugby association. The project includes the Pré Fleuri stadium, which is expected to have more than 10,000 seats in the future. The stadium, currently modest, will be enclosed on all four sides. Grill and Poulalier discussed plans to bring regional clubs closer to USON, positioning Nevers as a "formidable link" between regional rugby and professional divisions.

USON's regional connections

The Pro D2 team has shown support for RC Orléans, which is currently in the National league in the Centre-Val de Loire region and aims to reach the professional level. Nevers previously lent one of its stadium's giant screens to help equip the Marcel-Garcin stadium last summer. Several Espoirs or former players of USON have also played for RC Orléans in recent seasons.

Focus on long-term development

Grill acknowledged that the team's early-season results have been challenging, calling it a "period of transition" and emphasizing the need to prioritize training. He aims to create an environment for regional players that is "protective and demanding," and he does not rule out allowing them to join the Top 14 in the future. He stressed that long-term success should not be judged by immediate results.