Pro D2: Provence Rugby beat Colomiers 18-13 despite playing over an hour with 14 men

Provence Rugby secured an 18-13 away victory over Colomiers on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in the second round of Pro D2. The Aix-en-Provence side played with 14 men from the 21st minute following Hugo Ndiaye’s red card and were temporarily reduced to 13 late in the match. Two tries and six second-half points from Joris Cazenave helped Provence claim their second win in two games and move to nine points in the standings.

Provence Rugby’s first away match of the season quickly became a test of resistance at Stade Michel-Bendichou.

After opening their campaign with a 44-10 home victory over Agen on August 27, the Aix side travelled to Colomiers looking for a second consecutive win. This time, however, the match developed very differently.

Provence struck first.

Adrien Lapègue-Lafaye crossed for the opening try in the 14th minute, giving the visitors a 5-0 advantage.

Seven minutes later came the incident that changed the conditions of the match. Hugo Ndiaye was shown a red card in the 21st minute, leaving Provence to play virtually an hour with 14 men.

Colomiers responded through Thibault Debaës, whose 25th-minute penalty reduced the deficit to 5-3.

Provence strike again with 14 men

Despite being a player down, Provence continued to score.

In the 37th minute, Setareki Bituniyata crossed for their second try. Manuel Vareiro added the conversion a minute later, extending the visitors’ lead to 12-3.

Colomiers found an answer just before half-time. Alberto Carmona Molina scored in the 40th minute, although the conversion was unsuccessful.

Provence therefore went into the break leading 12-8.

The four-point margin left the game finely balanced. Colomiers had the numerical advantage, while Provence still faced an entire second half with 14 players.

The visitors nevertheless found another way to extend their lead.

Cazenave adds six crucial points

Joris Cazenave made an important contribution with the boot early in the second half.

The scrum-half converted penalties in the 50th and 54th minutes, according to the official LNR match record, taking Provence from a four-point advantage to a 10-point lead at 18-8.

Colomiers immediately remained within reach.

In the 59th minute, Grégoire Bazin scored the home side’s second try. With the conversion missed, the scoreboard moved to 13-18.

Five points separated the teams with more than 20 minutes remaining.

For Provence, the match had become a question of protecting that advantage while continuing to play a man short.

From 14 men to 13

The pressure increased again in the closing stages.

Caleb Muntz received a yellow card in the 70th minute, temporarily reducing Provence to 13 players against 15.

Colomiers now had both the numerical advantage and the possibility of drawing level with a converted try.

Three minutes later came one of their clearest opportunities. Thibault Debaës reached the try line but lost control of the ball, allowing Provence to preserve their five-point lead.

The visitors then defended the 18-13 score through the closing minutes.

After spending most of the contest with 14 men and part of the final period with 13, Provence Rugby held on to secure their first away victory of the new campaign.

Colomiers took a defensive bonus point from the defeat.

Two wins from two for Provence

The result gives Provence Rugby two victories from their opening two Pro D2 fixtures.

Their season began with a 44-10 victory over Agen at Stade Maurice-David on August 27. Six days later, the 18-13 result at Colomiers provided a very different type of win.

Provence Rugby now have nine points after two rounds and occupy first place in the Pro D2 standings, ahead of Oyonnax, who are also on nine points.

Their next match will bring them back to Aix-en-Provence. Provence Rugby host RC Narbonnais at Stade Maurice-David on Friday, September 11, at 7:30 p.m.

The first two rounds have therefore produced a perfect results record for Provence: 44-10 against Agen and 18-13 at Colomiers.

The second victory came with an additional difficulty — more than an hour spent in numerical inferiority and a closing period with only 13 players on the field.

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