Bayonne, favorite for the rise to the Top 14, started its season well at home by beating widely (37-16) Agen, another former elite resident, Thursday at the opening of the Pro D2 season.
Rowing, relegated to Pro D2 after a penalty shoot-off against great rival Biarritz, faced the other banned from the Top 14, Agen, for this inaugural match.
To discover
Pro D2 schedule and results
Read alsoFavorites, outsiders, promoted ...: everything you need to know before resuming the Pro D2
And Yannick Bru's players have quietly unfolded their rugby: they were already leading 27 to 9 at the break thanks to three tries scored by Cassiem (13), Lafage (28) and Luamanu (39), to which the Agenais responded with three penalties.
The score hardly changed during the second act until the fourth Bayonne try, scored by Duhau after a superb aerial delivery from Baget (73).
The Agenais, who lived a nightmarish season in the Top 14 with 26 defeats in 26 matches, scored for the honor a try by Sloan two minutes from time.
Another poster between candidates for the climb will animate this first day of Pro D2: Friday, Grenoble receives Oyonnax (8:45 pm).
Vannes, who last season fell against Biarritz during the accession phase after having had an excellent regular season, will start his season with a trip to Nevers.
Results of the 1st day of Pro D2:
Thursday
Bayonne (bo) - Agen 37 - 16
Friday
7:30 p.m.
Béziers - Aurillac
Colomiers - Provence Rugby
Narbonne - Mont-de-Marsan
Bourg-en-Bresse - Montauban
Carcassonne - Rouen
Nevers - Vannes
8:45 p.m.
Grenoble - Oyonnax
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