France
Here’s Pool B preview ! (TdV) #LigueDesOpensMoreSport
Published on 6th October 2022
The traditional Tournoi du Velay, second stage of the Ligue des Opens More-Sport, will be held on the weekend of October 8th and 9th. As usual, three groups will be reunited at the nautical centre La Vague to try to start their season as well as possible. Let’s have a look at the forces involved in pool B.
Ndead : 
Always high-ranked but without any win.
Clermont has been on the podium at every stage, including the final (3rd). A solid team that, like last year, will clearly have a chance to win in this pool B. The Clermontois, renamed Ndead this year, will have to do without their captain Damien Chesné, Christophe Forlay and Fabienne Courtial, replaced by the jokers Charles Rebour and Elodie Jacob.
Note that Le Chesnay’s player Adrien Le Rouzic joins the Clermont-Ferrand squad for this Open League.
Squale Team :
The marathoners of the League are back ! The Squales competed in all stages of the French Open League and the British Open League last season. However, if the motivation and the desire to play remain the same, the lack of players is still critical.
There will be only six, at most, at this stage. This is a familiar problem for a team that finished in fifth place in the final in Sarcelles. Moreover, Flaurian Carranza and Florian Bonhomme will not be present at this stage.
Lyon :
One of the two teams in the pool to have participated in the first stage of the year in Montpellier at the beginning of September. After missing out on qualification for D1 by one place last season, Lyon are starting this year with a desire to win despite a disappointing 9th place in the first stage of the league.
They will be without Guillaume Tizon, Jérôme Guillet and Jérôme Thiebault in Puy-en-Velay
Occitan Warriors :
The second team to have a stage in the fins ! It was better than Lyon with a fifth place in the general ranking.
Not qualified for the final last season, the Occitan Warriors will be able to count on a new addition, the Argentinian Catriel Femenia. The Warriors have also called on Adrien Pecher-Misseri as a joker on this stage.
France Elite F :
Like last year, the Elite Women will not be there for nothing. Winner of a stage and often on the podium, Jacques Bréchaire’s players finished in fourth place. A disappointing ending that the French will want to forget this season, even if the main goal is obviously the World Championships next summer in Australia.
La Rochelle :
The only D3 team present in the league final last season, La Rochelle is the team that called on the most jokers for this Tournoi du Velay.
With Rémi Honoré both Master M player and Master F coach, it was necessary to compensate. Marco Merlotti, Quentin Longuet and François Denudt are joining the Rochelle squad for this stage.
Lagny :
For its first participation in the league, Lagny arrived in numbers. 11 players make up the team of the 9th of the D2 2021-2022 for this stage in Puy-en-Velay. A squad with many young players who participated in the minimes and juniors championships, including the U20 international Kaëlig Baranton, Adrien Mériguet, Quentin Dewaele and Ismail Shehata.
The high level learning begins !
Masters F :
The surprise guest of this pool B. The French Masters F team is also starting its preparation for the World Championships. After a training camp in La Rochelle at the beginning of September, it is now time for the competition.
Still coached by Rémi Honoré, the 2018 world champions have a similar squad to the one in Quebec. Aurélie Yver, Karen Honoré, Mirddyn Denizeau, Mélissa Ferrois, Morgan Rocha and Carole Gillet (absent for this stage) are all back !
A weekend that promises to be more intense than ever in this mixed group.
So, who will take the lead in this pool B ? Make your predictions!
The ranking :
1- Hyères (23 points)
2- Vulcans (19 points)
3- Occitan Warrior (16 points)
4- Lyon (14 points)
5- PESSAC 2 (12 points)
6- Ndead (3 points)