Biarritz & EO'S miss out on Play-offs

[Ruckedtobits]

Almost in keeping with the topsy-turvy way their Season has gone, Biarritz lost out in their final game of the regular Season against local rivals Dax, who were already relegated. The one point loss by Biarritz (29-28) cost the Basque Club 5th place in the French Pro Div 2 and a play-off place against 3rd place Perpignon. Biarritz Olympique actually finished 7th behind Jeremy Davidson's Aurrilac, although equal on points with them.

Pau (Section Paloise) coached by former Munster backs Coach Simon Mannix and inspired throughout the Season by their former Munster No 8 Coughlan, claimed the automatic winners promotion and the play-offs are between (2nd) Montauban (with former Leinster Academy second-row Mark Flanagan) v (5th) Albi, and (3rd) Perpignon v (4th) Agen. Two of the historic great names in French Club rugby bring a clash of South West v South East.

The result will be a huge disappointment to O'Sullivan and his Club owner Serge Blanco as the strong rumours of merger talks between the two Basque Clubs Bayonne and Biarritz persist amid Bayonne's annual struggle to stave off relegation from the Top 14.