What is the 'espoirs' competition all about and who is in it?
13.09.26, 13:32 Updated 13.09.26, 14:09
Richard Dixon
Who are these 'espoirs'?
Since 2019, the date of the last rejig, the espoirs ('hope') has been a national competition for the under 21 teams of the professional sides i.e. Top 14 and Pro D2. Remember, Nationale 1 and Nationale 2 (levels 3 and 4) are deemed semi-pro.
That makes for thirty sides. Four pools of six play home and away for 10 fixtures each in the 'Elite' level. Top four from each pool then qualified for the knockout stages. What happens to the remaining six who don't make one of those four pools of six? They are in one of two 'accession' pools of ten, with clubs from lower down the pecking order i.e from the Nationale 1 and 2.
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Richard Dixon Richard's fascination with French rugby is deep and longstanding. University tours were followed by a spell playing for Bergerac. Once his playing days were over, he began coaching and attended the legendary Pierre Villepreux's residential coaching camps. Richard now lives in Toulouse, and coaches young people at both Stade Toulousain and TOEC.