Another bankruptcy filing and a distorted championship: Nationale is going through a violent crisis. In a statement on Tuesday, Niort confirmed that they had filed for bankruptcy. That brings with it a blanket forfeit for their first team.

A debt estimated at between 600 and 800,000 euros, together with the departure of a major partner, are plunging the Deux-Sèvres club into crisis. “After reaching the ranks of the 44 best French clubs, the first team is enjoying an exceptional campaign in the Nationale 1 championship thanks to a standard of play and a mindset that are remarkable in every respect“, the NRC began by recalling.

Before adding: “The diversification of activities, for its part, is not at the expected level for want of sufficient financial means.Indeed, for several months an unprecedented action plan has been under way targeting local, regional and national players, aimed at significantly strengthening the development model of Niort Rugby Club with the financial levers made available by the SCIC Niort Rugby Club“.

And concluding: “That is why Niort Rugby Club immensely regrets to announce the opening of insolvency proceedings for SAS Niort Rugby Club before the Niort Commercial Court, with the immediate consequence of the withdrawal of the first team from the Nationale 1 championship“.

Bonus-point wins on the way

As a reminder, barely a week ago it was Tarbes who had to file for bankruptcy. With this new blanket forfeit, the table is going to shift seriously… To the great delight of some and the great misfortune of others.

This sorry situation will therefore smile on Massy, Albi, Chambéry and Périgueux – all of whom were beaten at Niort – who are awarded a five-point bonus win. Nice and Narbonne, conversely, will suffer from the upheaval.

Since it was introduced in 2023, Blagnac, Dijon, Tarbes and now, in all likelihood, Niort have filed for bankruptcy. Not forgetting Hyères-Carqueiranne-La Crau, who restarted at the lowest regional level. Recently, Bourg-en-Bresse were also relegated to Nationale 2. The Bresse club can still appeal.