Disgraced ex-Bok watches on as penalty shootout settles Nationale drama

An old-fashioned yet always thrilling penalty shootout decided the French Nationale semifinal, after Sporting Club Albigeois and RC Narbonnais remained locked at 29 points following 100 minutes, with visitors Narbonne ultimately emerging victorious from the Stadium Municipal d’Albi.

But let’s go back to the start. Narbonne scored first following a 3-point kick taken by Thibault Santoro, with Albi’s Theo Vidal levelling the score a few minutes later. Heading into halftime, both teams had matched each other with a converted try and a penalty, leaving the score level at 13–13.

After the short rest, the locals slotted in another penalty before Nabonne converted one of their own again by Santoro. Former Wallaby Peter Betham and Springbok winger Aphiwe Dyantyi looked determined to find a way into the hosts’ defence, but neither was successful in breaching the whitewash.

With Vidal and Santoro capitalising on two more penalties each, the game seemed destined for overtime when Narbonne’s Pierre-Hugo Ducom danced his way through to score a 78th-minute try.

With the visitors’ supporters already celebrating what seemed a match-winning try, Albi struck back, and after several phases, lock Guillem Calmon stretched his arm to level things once again.

With emotions running high, both teams returned to the game after a short break, but this time neither side scored, forcing a penalty shootout.

Vidal and Santoro went up first and, as happened throughout the game, neither missed their kick. Four more penalties were converted, with Aussie veteran Peter Betham taking the tee in one of them.

The match-defining moment came at the 7th penalty kick attempt, with Téo Dospital missing it for Albi’s supporters’ despair. With a chance to qualify for the final, former Pumita Axel Müller didn’t tremble and sent Narbonne’s fans into celebration.

NARBONNE AU BOUT DU SUSPENSE🔥

Après un match complètement fou, prolongations puis tirs au but, Narbonne arrache sa qualification pour la finale 💥#NationaleRugby pic.twitter.com/yCOQhSLUl9

— Nationale Rugby (@NationaleRugby) May 9, 2026

Narbonne heads on to the final, where they will meet Waisea Nayacalevu, Owen Lane and Joel Kpoku’s Nissa Rugby, with the Nationale decider taking place on May 16th at the Stade Marcel Verchere.

The winner secures promotion to Pro D2, while the runner-up will still have a chance to go up, facing the second-from-bottom side in Pro D2 in a barrage final.