Arguably rugby's most gifted nation tops Pro D2 try-scoring charts

With the Pro D2 knockouts in full swing, we still have time to dive deep into what happened in the regular season, specifically which nations – outside of France – provided the competition’s top try scorers.

Over thirty-one nations were represented in the table of top try scorers, with a few surprises in the mix, showcasing the dazzling rugby canvas of the French ProD2.

A total of 1557 tries were scored in the 2025/2026 season, with the non-French armada amassing a total of 612, representing 39 per cent of the try scorers’ share. It was a clear improvement on the previous edition of the ProD2, surpassing it by 40 tries, a telling sign of how influential players from Georgia, Fiji, England, Portugal, South Africa, Uruguay, etc., have been in the competition’s growth.

But let’s cut to the chase: which nation can brag about having the most ProD2 finishers? The short answer is Fiji, and the long answer is Fiji! From August to May, 26 players were involved in the try-scoring duties, collecting a grand total of 96 finishes when the regular phase came to a close.

Setareki Bituniyata, who remains uncapped for Fiji, added 13 five-pointers to his name, helping Provence secure third place. US Dax’s Jope Naseara claimed 9, and US Oyonnax’s Edward Sawailau, with 8, completed the Fijian podium.

Portugal came in second place, with the European nation clinching 72 tries. However, in addition to taking home the silver medal, Portugal can also point to the fact that they had the ProD2’s top try scorer, as Lucas Martins topped the table with 17 finishes. Raffaele Storti made a successful return to form with 15 tries for FC Grenoble, while Samuel Marques banked 10 in what was his final year as a member of the AS Béziers-Hérault brigade.

Debutant Manuel Vareiro, who was an amateur player just nine months ago, not only managed to cross the whitewash three times, but he also added 69 points from the tee.

As for the bronze medal, New Zealand wraps up the nations’ podium with 71 finishes, spread across 17 operators. Former Western Force and Melbourne Rebels scrum-half Michael Ruru was pivotal to RC Vanne’s sensational 116-point run, scoring 14 tries in 22 games and performing at a high level from the start.

Former Counties Manukau man Sam Tuifua made a monumental impact in his ProD2 debut, brushing tacklers aside to reach the in-goal area 13 times, while US Oyonnax’s Gavin Stark claimed 8.

Georgia was just one try short of finishing joint third, recording 70 tries from 25 players. Rounding out the remaining six spots in the top ten were South Africa (43), Australia (41), Argentina (37), Tonga (28), England (26) and Ireland (24).

As for the Home Nations, England’s winger Ben Stevenson landed seven finishes for RC Vannes, in what is proving to be his best season since becoming a pro player. Ireland’s John Cooney delivered a strong ProD2 campaign, with 6 tries and 44 points from the boot, making an immediate impact since he arrived in Brive.

The now-retired winger Jonny May secured 4 finishes, one in his final pro game, helping Soyaux-Angoulême avoid relegation. As for Wales and Scotland, Owen Lane was Wales’ top try scorer with 3, while Dave Cherry, also with 3, was Scotland’s sole try scorer of the season.

For those wondering who fills the remaining 21 spots on the list, we can happily reveal that they were: Netherlands (14 tries), Morocco (14), Samoa (13), Spain (12), Germany (8), USA (7), Romania (6), Wales (5), Uruguay (4), Namibia (4), Scotland (3), Chile (2), Brazil (2), Ivory Coast (2), Cook Islands (2), Canada (1), Belgium (1), Congo (1), Zimbabwe (1), Algeria (1) and Italy (1).

Now, if we look at the list from an average tries-per-player perspective, the podium sees a massive change, as Morocco jumps to first place, with Mr Rapidness himself, Karim Qadiri, bagging 14 tries as the sole try scorer from that nation.

Germany’s Maxime Oltmann would help his nation claim the silver medal in the try-per-player average, finding his way to the try area on eight occasions in another successful season for US Dax. Even with this twist, Portugal would still find a place among the top three, averaging 5 tries per player, showcasing the lethality of the Portuguese wolfpack.

And what about the clubs? Which side made their international contingent pay off more?

Unsurprisingly, Stade Aurillacois, which has been something of a factory for international talent, had the most non-French players scoring tries, with 19 players contributing 51 tries.

However, US Oyonnax led the way in tries scored by international players during the regular season, with 14 players contributing a combined 65 finishes. RC Vannes comes in second place, with 57 five-pointers from 14 members of the Brittany side.

The final placement for each side is as follows: SU Agen (50 tries from 12 players), Provence (48/12), US Colomiers (45/8), Stade Montois (44/13), CA Brive (42/17), US Dax (36/9), AS Béziers-Hérault (35/14), FC Grenoble (30/10), Valence Romans DR (23/9), Soyaux-Angoulême (23/9), Biarritz Olympique (17/9) and US Carcassonne (15/7).

Karim Qadiri’s try-scoring prowess has pushed US Oyonnax over the playoff finishing line. At the same time, the combination of Rodrigo Marta, Caleb Timu and Matias Osadczuk was key for Colomiers to clinch a home semifinal.

As the 2025/2026 chapter edges ever closer to its conclusion, with a new champion set to be crowned on June 6th, it is undeniable that the excitement surrounding the ProD2 is felt in every corner of the game, showcased by the impact of the foreign legion on the competition’s development.