The Championnat Fédéral Nationale, also known simply as the Nationale, is the third tier of rugby union club competition division in France. Introduced in 2020, it is operated by the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
Season structure There is relegation and promotion between both the Pro D2 and Nationale 2, the fourth-level competition. Nationale conducts a play-off system similar to the one currently used in Pro D2, with the top six teams qualifying for the play-offs and the top two teams receiving byes into the semi-finals. The winner of the final earns automatic promotion to the next season's Pro D2 if they are eligible financially to do so, and the runner up conducts an access match with the 2nd bottom side from the Pro D2. The bottom two are automatically relegated to Nationale 2. The bottom two clubs of the Pro D2 and the top two of Nationale 2 then enter Nationale for the next season.
There are 26 rounds in the regular season, with each team playing each other team home and away. The two halves of the season are played in the same order, with the away team in the first half of the season at home in the second half. The semi-finals and final take place in May, with the semi-finals being held over two-legs and the final taking place at a predetermined site. At present, 14 clubs compete in the competition.
Current teams
Club City Stadium Capacity Previous season Albi Albi Stadium Municipal d'Albi 13,580 6th Bourg-en-Bresse Bourg-en-Bresse Stade Marcel-Verchère 11,400 8th Bourgoin-Jallieu Bourgoin-Jallieu Stade Pierre Rajon 9,441 9th Chambéry Chambéry Chambéry Savoie Stadium 3,000 1st Marcq-en-Barœul Marcq-en-Barœul Stadium Lille Métropole 18,500 10th Massy Massy Stade Jules-Ladoumègue 3,200 7th Narbonne Narbonne Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié 12,000 2nd Niort RC Niort Espinassou Stadium2,000 Promoted from Nationale 2 (2nd)NissaNiceStade Marcel-Volot3,000Relegated from Pro D2 (16th) Périgueux Périgueux Stade Francis-Rongiéras 9,000 4th Rennes EC Rennes Commandant Bougouin Stadium5,000 Promoted from Nationale 2 (1st) Rouen Rouen Stade Robert Diochon 12,000 5th Suresnes Suresnes Stade Jean-Moulin 20,000 12th Tarbes Tarbes Stade Maurice Trélut 16,400 11th
Champions +SeasonWinnerScoreFinalistVenue2020–21US Bressane26–16RC NarbonneStade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin-Jallieu2021–22RC Massy38–10Soyaux Angoulême XVStade Ernest-Argelès, Blagnac2022–23Valence Romans DR26–19US DaxStade Maurice Trélut, Tarbes2023–24Stade Niçois39–30RC NarbonneChambéry Savoie Stadium, Chambéry2024–25US Carcassonne24–23SO ChambéryParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne2025–26TBDTBDTBD
See also French Rugby Federation Rugby union in France
References
External links Nationale at the French Rugby Federation