EDDIE O’SULLIVAN’S BIARRITZ missed out on the chance to earn promotion into the Top 14 after a 29-28 loss to Dax on the final day of the Pro D2 regular season.
The defeat means Biarritz finish the campaign seventh in the league and therefore outside the promotion play-off places [second to fifth].
O’Sullivan celebrates Ireland’s Triple Crown in 2006 with Brian O’Driscoll. Source: Billy Stickland/INPHO
The Basque club, five times the champions of France, were relegated from the Top 14 last season but had hoped to bounce straight back up despite losing star names such as Dimitri Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy.
A budget of just over €11million for the season was the joint highest in the Pro D2 along with Perpignan, who were also relegated from the Top 14 last season. However, Biarritz have struggled to string wins together in this campaign on a consistent basis and defeat away to Dax this afternoon cost them dearly.
A win would have seen former Ireland coach O’Sullivan and Biarritz into the play-offs at the expense of Albi.
There was also disappointment for Irishman Jeremy Davidson, whose Aurillac side hammered Bourgoin 54-21 today but also narrowly missed out on the promotion play-offs.
Aurillac end their season in sixth, three points behind Albi, a remarkable achievement given that their budget of €4.3million is the fifth-lowest in the Pro D2. Davidson recently signed a new five-year deal with the Cantal-based club, a recognition of his excellent work.
There will be one Irishman competing in the Pro D2 play-offs, however, as Mark Flanagan helped Mont-de-Marsan to secure second position and therefore give themselves a home semi-final against Albi next weekend.
Ex-Leinster lock Flanagan has helped Mont-de-Marsan into the play-offs. Source: Cathal Noonan/INPHO
The 25-year-old former Leinster lock has been in strong form again this season in the French second tier and will relish the chance to help Mont-de-Marsan secure promotion in the play-offs over the coming fortnight.
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However, even if Mont-de-Marsan are promoted, Westmeath man Flanagan will miss out on the Top 14 as he has already agreed to join Bedford Blues in the English Championship next season.
Perpignan will host Agen, where Irishman Denis Fogarty plays, in the second Pro D2 semi-final next weekend. James Coughlan’s Pau have already been promoted as the league champions after a dominant season under Simon Mannix.
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