Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Damien Kilani / DK Prod / DPPI via AFP 19:43 pm, June 06, 2023
Tragic end of the season for the Grenoble rugby club. While the club played a match of accession to the Top 14 against Perpignan last weekend, the Rugby League has just announced its demotion to National for "financial reasons".The club of Grenoble, finalist of Pro D2 and defeated in accession match against Perpignan (33-19) last weekend, is demoted to National "for financial reasons", announced Tuesday night the National Rugby League. "Following the hearing on May 11, 2023 of FC Grenoble Rugby and after analyzing the documents of the files, the investigation reports and the arguments presented by the club, the formation 'Regulation' of the Disciplinary Council of French rugby" has demoted to National (3rd div.) the Isère club, says the NRL in a statement.
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'Budget inconsistency'
This decision results from "the projected negative restated net situation as of June 30, 2023 and the level of budgetary uncertainties 2023/2024 not covered" by the club, says the League. Grenoble, which has a period of 7 days to appeal, was also sanctioned with a withdrawal of 6 points "from the classification of the championship in which (it) will evolve during the 2023/2024 season in application of article 3.1.2 'inconsistency and / or implausibility of the budget (initial and / or updated)'".
The Isère club, which had left the elite four years ago, finished the regular season in second place behind Oyonnax, promoted to the Top 14 next season after winning the Pro D2 final (14-3) against its Alpine neighbors.