Preview – 2nd stage of the French Open League : La Rochelle

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This weekend, the French Open League is going to La Rochelle. After the XVIIth edition of the Velay Tournament, which marked the return of underwater hockey in France, 24 teams will compete in Charente-Maritime for the qualifying places for the French Open League final and for the Open League point challenge.

Pool A

During the Tournoi du Velay, Fontenay used their experience against the young guard of Moirans, led by Clément Grandamas and Maxime Piaser, to win 4-0. While the two finalists have received their qualifying tickets for the national final of the French Open League in Sarcelles on 23 and 24 April 2022, other teams will be competing for the precious tickets.

Third in the Puy-en-Velay stage, Diderot will be determined to qualify for the national final. To achieve this, they have strengthened their squad with two new players, Bence Böszörményi (Hungarian) and Felipe Pernett (Colombian).

Finally, Dinan, third in the first round of the D1 and fourth in the TDV, will also have to perform well to secure their ticket to the final. The Bretons will have to do without Edouard Crolotte, positive to the Covid-19 but still with a very high level squad with several internationals like Pierre-Alban Lalys and Hyacinthe Flandrin. Will they be able to repeat their D1 performance and beat a Fontenay team without Stéphane Royer and Florent Véronèse ?

Pool B

Absent from this second stage, the Team More-Sport had dominated the Velay’s stage by conceding only one goal against Clermont in the final (3-1). Both teams also won their tickets to the national final. This time, the players coached by Guillaume Laurency will not be part of the tournament, leaving the door open to teams like Neuilly, La Rochelle and especially the French Elite women’s team who will have arguments to use against the favourites from Clermont.

Pool C

Will the players from Le Chesnay keep the lead of the point challenge ? Winners of the Le Puy stage, the recent D1 third-placed team are the favourites of the competition, even if they will have to do without their captain Alison Touchain. However, watch out for the Rendinantes team, a squad made up of both internationals and young players who could have something to say. The strong HOPE team with its experienced players will also be worth watching.

The programme of the first day 

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