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Des joueurs internationaux dans tous les clubs de Pro D2

La Pro D2 prendra parfois un petit air de Coupe du Monde cette saison : la Gallois George North (ballon en main) et le Géorgien Giorgi Kveseladze (N.13, de dos), ici lors de la RWC 2023, vont en effet se retrouver sur les terrains de la 2e division française, respectivement sous les couleurs de Provence Rugby et de Grenoble (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER/AFP via Getty Images).

Les clubs de Pro D2 ont recruté une quarantaine de joueurs internationaux durant l’intersaison, issus de tous horizons. RugbyPass s’est penché sur le profil de ces joueurs venus enrichir un championnat chaque année plus attractif et plus concurrentiel.

Il y a évidemment les têtes d’affiche Courtney Lawes (Brive), Jonny May (Soyaux-Angoulême) ou George North (Provence) qui ont, de manière assez inattendue, rejoint les rangs d’équipes de Pro D2.

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Mais derrière ces trois grands noms du rugby mondial qui totalisent à eux trois 313 capes (dont neuf avec les Lions britanniques et irlandais), c’est toute la deuxième division française qui a recruté des joueurs internationaux.

39 joueurs internationaux recrutés par les clubs de Pro D2

En effet, pas un seul des 16 clubs engagés dans ce championnat chaque année un peu plus relevé n’a fait l’économie d’une signature de gros calibre.

Des favoris à la montée en Top 14 Agen, Brive ou Provence Rugby jusqu’à l’unique promu, le Stade Niçois, chacun a réussi à enrichir son effectif d’au moins un joueur ayant goûté aux joutes internationales.

Au total, les arrivées d’internationaux dans les clubs de Pro D2 représentent 39 mouvements et concernent 14 nationalités sportives différentes (par ordre alphabétique, Afrique du Sud, Angleterre, Argentine, Australie, Écosse, Fidji, Géorgie, Namibie, Pays-Bas, pays de Galles, Portugal, Samoa, Tonga et Uruguay).

Provence Rugby tire son épingle du jeu

À ce petit jeu, la palme du recrutement le plus impressionnant, sur le papier tout au moins, revient à Provence Rugby. Le club basé à Aix-en-Provence a non seulement attiré l’un des trois-quarts les plus impactants de sa génération avec le Gallois George North 121 sélections avec son pays et trois avec les Lions), mais aussi trois autres joueurs disposant d’une véritable expérience du très haut niveau.

En engageant les Australiens Izack Rodda (34 sél.) et Ned Hanigan (28 sél.), et le Géorgien Tornike Jalagonia (35 sél.), les Provençaux espèrent franchir le dernier écueil qui les sépare du Top 14 après avoir échoué de peu en 2023-2024.

Les Wallabies Izack Rodda et Ned Hanigan (au centre et à droite) défendront les couleurs de Provence Rugby cette saison (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK / AFP).

Pour rappel, Provence Rugby avait terminé la phase régulière en tête, mais avait été privé de finale d’accession par Grenoble, vainqueur 23-22 au stade Maurice-David en demi-finale.

La Géorgie, fournisseuse officielle d’internationaux en Pro D2

Si 14 nationalités sont représentées, un pays représente à lui seul près d’un quart (9) des recrues internationales débarquant en Pro D2 ou changeant de club : la Géorgie. Le pays de l’Europe de l’Est a détrôné depuis quelques années maintenant les îles du Pacifique (Fidji, Samoa, Tonga), traditionnels fournisseurs de talents à bas coût.

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Les Lelos présentent plusieurs avantages pour les clubs de Pro D2, moins fortunés que leurs grands frères du Top 14. Il y a évidemment la dimension financière : à niveau égal, un Géorgien demande un salaire généralement moins élevé qu’un Français, un Australien ou un Argentin. L’autre grand avantage des Géorgiens, c’est qu’ils sont nombreux à disposer du statut de JIFF (joueur issu des filières de formation).

En effet, dans ce pays où les solides piliers poussent comme des champignons, on rêve de plus en plus tôt d’un destin en France, et ils sont de plus en plus nombreux à rejoindre l’Hexagone pour y terminer leur formation. À l’heure où les clubs de Pro D2 doivent aligner un minimum de 16 JIFF par feuille de match, ce statut offre un avantage certain à leurs détenteurs.

Des joueurs internationaux dans les clubs de Pro D2, mais généralement peu capés

Si l’on retire à la liste les exceptions Lawes, May et North, les recrues internationales en Pro D2 comptent en moyenne moins de 14 capes chacune. Et encore, ce chiffre est là encore boosté par les Géorgiens, à l’image du Briviste Konstantine Mikautadze (54 sélections), du Grenoblois Giorgi Kveseladze (59) ou de l’Aurillacois Tedo Abzhandadze (54).

La plus-value, si elle n’est pas garantie, est toutefois souvent importante et immédiate. Un Wallaby, un Springbok ou un Puma, même dotés d’une paire de capes, disposent d’une aura et d’une expérience souvent supérieures à ses coéquipiers qui tirent tout le monde vers le haut. Est-ce que ce sera encore le cas cette saison ? Réponse à partir du 29 août, date de la première journée de Pro D2.

Les recrues internationales pour la saison 2024-2025 de Pro D2

AGEN

Jack Maunder (Angleterre, 1 sélection)

AURILLAC

Tedo Abzhandadze (Géorgie, 54)
Koen Bloemen (Pays-Bas, 13)

BÉZIERS

Aminiasi Tuimaba (Fidji, 3)

BIARRITZ

Giorgi Dzmanashvili (Géorgie, 1)
Piula Fa’aselele (Samoa, 18)
Cornell Du Preez (Écosse, 9)
Masivesi Dakuwaqa (Fidji, 3)

BRIVE

Courtney Lawes (Angleterre, 105)
Konstantine Mikautadze (Géorgie, 54)
Curwin Bosch (Afrique du Sud, 3)

COLOMIERS

Caleb Timu (Australie, 3)
Anzelo Tuitavuki (Tonga, 7)

DAX

Jale Vatubua (Fidji, 16)
Peter Lydon (Pays-Bas, 1)

GRENOBLE

Cody Thomas (Portugal, 2)
Richard Hardwick (Namibie, 7 ; Australie, 2)
Giorgi Kveseladze (Géorgie, 59)
Gerswin Mouton (Namibie, 6)

MONTAUBAN

Joe Powell (Australie, 6)
Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Afrique du Sud, 6)

MONT-DE-MARSAN

Ioane Iashagushvili (Géorgie, 1)
Luka Goginava (Géorgie, 2)

NEVERS

Atu Manu (Tonga, 2)

NICE

Facundo Gigena (Argentine, 5)
Tom Ross (Australie, 1)
Jordan Taufua (Samoa, 10)

OYONNAX

Peniami Narisia (Fidji,1)
Manuel Leindeker (Uruguay, 21)
Martin Bodago (Argentine, 4)
Oli Kebble (Écosse, 12)

PROVENCE RUGBY

George North (pays de Galles, 121)
Izack Rodda (Australie, 34)
Ned Hamigan (Australie 29)
Tomike Jalagonia (Géorgie 35)

SOYAUX-ANGOULÊME

Jonny May (Angleterre, 78)

VALENCE-ROMANS

Otar Giorgadze (Géorgie, 36)
Ilia Spanderashvili (Géorgie, 8)
Owen Lane (pays de Galles, 5)

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