Will ASM Clermont be able to move into their future rugby city next summer as planned? One factor could delay the project. Our colleagues at Ici Pays d’Auvergne reported on Monday that archaeological remains dating from Protohistory (between 1 and 3 millennia BC) have been discovered on the building site at Les Gavranches, in the north of Clermont-Ferrand.

A project delayed if there are archaeological digs

ASM, who say they have already factored this in by making technical adjustments to the project, hope that will be enough to avoid pushing back the works. They will have to accept a delay, however, if the archaeology experts sent to the site judge that the remains found are of scientific interest requiring in-depth excavation.

It is a setback the club could do without, given that the rugby city in question is due to house all of ASM’s teams, from the professionals to the youth sides and the women’s team, from next season onwards.