Another bad day for sorry Grenoble

ONLY the hardest of rugby hearts would fail to feel for Grenoble’s.

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Of all sides, they have more reason to hate the current system of promotion and relegation between the Top 14 and ProD2 than most. Especially now, after they have failed to win promotion three times over the past six seasons.

Nine days ago, Sam Davies's side lost their third ProD2 final in as many seasons. They have now finished second in consecutive showpiece matches against Bayonne, Oyonnax and Montauban. It left them as three-time losing ProD2 finalists-facing another promotion-relegation play-off at their Stade des Alpes home against the side that finished 13th in the Top 14.

This is, arguably, the richest game in French rugby - worth as much as 10million Euros to the winners. Yesterday, Grenoble lost that match against Perpignan 11-13. The third time in a row they've failed at the last-last attempt.

The match, in front of a packed house, was a frenetic affair, as in temperatures hovering around 30 degrees-46 players gave what was left of their all at the end of a long, long season.

Tavite Veredamu opened the scoring for the Top 14 side in the third minute but that was the last time they moved their side of the scoreboard for more than an hour. A Tommaso Allan penalty then nudged them into a 10-8 lead with the clock ticking down.

Grenoble had edged ahead in the first half courtesy of a Thomas Lainault try and a Davies penalty. A tense finale loomed. Romain Trouilloud's penalty nudged Grenoble 11-10 ahead again in the 75th minute. Allan regained the advantage for Perpignan two minutes later. It was enough-just. But the score is unimportant. All that matters is winning. And losing. And Grenoble head back to the drawing board.