Carcassonne and Mont-de-Marsan entered the 2026-2027 Nationale rugby season sharing the tag of favorites following their relegation from Pro D2 in June, but the second weekend of competition decisively separated their early trajectories. While Carcassonne secured a dominant 36-12 victory away against Bourg-en-Bresse, Mont-de-Marsan stumbled in the Tarn with a narrow 21-17 defeat against Albi.
Carcassonne Claims Early Control at the Top
Building on an opening-round 32-14 win over Albi, Carcassonne delivered a clinical performance on the road against US Bressane to claim maximum points. According to data, the club from the Aude department boasts the division’s highest offensive output with 68 total points scored and only 26 conceded across two matches. Jérôme Bosviel, the all-time leading points scorer in Pro D2 history who joined Carcassonne this summer after leaving Montauban, immediately established his influence on the squad’s campaign.
Alongside Carcassonne, Suresnes and Massy remain undefeated at the top of the table. Massy secured victories over Périgueux and Bourgoin, while Suresnes defeated Rouen before taking an away win against Marcq-en-Baroeul, pushing both clubs to 10 points.
Mont-de-Marsan Slips After Record Opening
Mont-de-Marsan arrived in Albi looking to replicate their statement 47-0 opening-round shutout of Vienne. However, the club fell short by four points in a 21-17 loss. Despite the setback, according to data, the team retains the division’s best point differential at plus-43, keeping them in the upper tier with 8 points.
Albi rebounded from its opening loss against Carcassonne by handing the visitors their first defeat, successfully navigating a difficult early schedule that paired them with both Pro D2 relegation sides in consecutive weeks.
Struggles at the Foot of the Table
At the opposite end of the standings, US Bressane and Périgueux face mounting pressure after scoreless or heavily lopsided fixtures. US Bressane recorded the lowest offensive total in the division with just 18 points across two matches—six against Orléans and 12 against Carcassonne. Périgueux conceded 76 total points in their first two outings, including a 51-24 defeat at Chambéry.
Meanwhile, Vienne experienced a sharp turnaround. Following their scoreless opening loss to Mont-de-Marsan, Vienne defeated Rennes 23-21 to secure their first victory and climb out of the basement.
Standout Individual Performances
Individual scoring charts after two rounds highlight several key playmakers:
- Harry Glynn (Rennes): Leads all league scorers with 29 points despite his team’s loss to Vienne, according to data.
- Florent Massip (Rouen): Registered 25 points.
- Aurélien Barreau (Mont-de-Marsan): Contributed 25 points.
- Thibault Moreno (Chambéry): Scored 25 points.
- Logan Tabet (Rouen): Stands as the only player with three tries after two rounds.
Next Round Fixtures
The third round of the Nationale championship is scheduled for September 4 and 5, 2026. Carcassonne will host Rouen, Mont-de-Marsan will welcome US Bressane, and Albi will travel to face Vienne.