After a defeat in the northern conference final last season, the Rouen Leopards are back in the division 2 championship this Saturday, January 21. Indeed, this first weekend of competition marks the start of a new season which begins at home.
An important first weekend
The start of the season is always an important moment for a team, it is the time to apply all the work done over several months and send a strong message to future opponents in the division. This weekend is the first match of the season and the Rouennais will welcome the Templiers d'Elancourt for an interesting shock. The Templars and the Leopards already met last season, the first leg in Rouen ended in a very close 20-18 victory for the Leopards and the return match at the very end of the season ended in a defeat of Rouen 11 to 18 came in small numbers to the Elancourt field.
A season with big goals
This year the objectives are high for the D2 team, to win a French championship title and move up to the Elite division next season. The players of Head Coach Jean Bidaux will have to surpass themselves. A few words from Jean: “This year, we must take no match lightly and every week it will be a new challenge, it will be a new challenge. It's super super important to respect your opponent at all costs and just play our best football, it's us against us, every game will be a superbowl”.
Young U17s in the national championship
This year the young people of the Rouen Leopards club, the U17s (16 years and under) will face the best teams in the national championship. For these young people who are the future of the club, the stakes are high since they will have the chance to prove themselves and show what they are capable of! After a defeat in the quarter-final last year against Flash de la Courneuve, they will be keen to showcase the talent of the young Leopards of Rouen.
The news
Match at the Petite Bouverie sports complex in Rouen.
Saturday 19 p.m., free entry.
Rouen Leopards vs Elancourt Templars.
