Enough is enough. With 22 players on the flank, RC Chilly-Mazarin made a radical decision. Five days before the end of the regular season, the Spartans have decided to throw in the towel. “It is with death in the soul that we made this decision, recognizes Stéphane Nello, the president of the club. He had to make up his mind. With 22 injured, it is no longer possible to continue. »
He continues: “At home, my players are all amateurs. They all have a job on the side or are students. The goal is not that they put themselves in difficulty in their job. Rugby, for them, should only be fun. »
Good last of the hen 1 of the Elite 1, which brings together the twelve best French teams (in two groups), the Essonniennes lived a season in hell, with ten defeats in ten games, sometimes heavy as in Montpellier (63-0) or Bordeaux (78-0). “It’s not because of the results that we decided to forfeit, cut Stéphane Nello. We are simply faced with the obvious. We all discussed it together. We could have continued by playing with the packages and the matches with insufficient numbers (MEI). But it’s not serious. »
The club does not disappear however. He will continue the Reserve Championship in Elite 1. “We can continue with one team but not two”, confirms Stéphane Nello. As a direct consequence, Chilly-Mazarin will therefore leave the Elite, where he would have had great difficulty in maintaining himself in sport anyway.
“I feel responsible for endangering the girls”
“We’ve been at this level for four years,” says Nello. An Elite that has grown from sixteen to fourteen, then twelve teams. It was getting more and more difficult. I tell myself that we should perhaps not have started again at this level this season. I feel responsible for endangering the girls. We have to be clear, we don’t have the means to be at this level. »
In all likelihood, the club will return to Federal 1 next season, i.e. at the third national level. “This level will be more in line with our club, believes Stéphane Nello. We’re going to have to redefine a project to set off again and experience a calmer season. »
In agreement on the women’s sector with the club of Massy, the red lantern of the Pro D2, the descent of the girls of Chilly can have consequences on its neighbor. “Everything will depend on whether we stay in Pro D2, confirms José Ramos, president of Massy. In the event of a National descent, this should not change much for us. On the other hand, in the event of maintenance, I do not know what can happen. This is sad news and it also confirms the difficulties of maintaining a club at the top level. »