At the top of the standings for the first time in Round 10, Provence Rugby faces a perilous trip to Biarritz on Friday in a Pro D2 championship that remains as tight as ever.

Provence Rugby may be in the lead, but they have the same number of points (31) as Grenoble and Montauban after the first ten rounds. One of these three teams could well go a week without a match at the top of the table. After a mixed start to the season, all three have momentum on their side: each has lost just once in the last five matches.

Behind the leading trio, an ambitious pack is led by Brive (29 points), which also includes Biarritz (27 points), who host the leaders. The Biarrots will be looking to redeem themselves after their last defeat at Mont-de-Marsan, who were in 13th place prior to the match against them.

Grenoble host Soyaux-Angoulême (26 points), while Montauban travel to mid-table Agen in Thursday’s advanced match. Brive, who have won just once away from home this season, have an opportunity to improve on that record when they travel to Nice, currently 15th out of 16 teams.

Exceptionally, the matches will be played over three days, with the Dax – Mont-de-Marsan match moving to Bayonne on Saturday, at the Jean-Dauger stadium.

The program for day 10 of Pro D2

Thursday:

(9:00 pm) Agen – Montauban

Friday:

(7:00 pm) Colomiers – Béziers

(19:30) Grenoble – Soyaux-Angoulême

Aurillac – Nevers

Nice – Brive

Valence-Romans – Oyonnax

(21h00) Biarritz – Provence Rugby

Saturday:

(4:30pm) Dax – Mont-de-Marsan