The 2008–09 Rugby Pro D2 was the second-level French rugby union club competition, behind the Top 14, in the 2008–09 season. It ran alongside the 2008–09 Top 14 competition; both competitions were operated by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR).
At the end of the previous season, Toulon were champions and thus automatically promoted to Top 14. They were eventually followed by Mont-de-Marsan, who beat Racing Métro in extra time in the final providing the second promotion place. Blagnac, which had been newly promoted to Pro D2 for the 2007–08 season, finished bottom of the table and were initially relegated to Fédérale 1, but were further relegated by French sporting authorities to Fédérale 2 due to financial problems. Limoges finished second-from-bottom for the second consecutive year; unlike 2006–07, when Limoges were reprieved when Gaillac were denied a professional license due to financial issues, they received no such break in 2007–08. The other promoted team in 2007–08, Aurillac, stayed up, finishing in 11th.
Colomiers and Bourg-en-Bresse earned promotion from Fédérale 1 for the 2008–09 season, while Albi and Auch were relegated from the 2007–08 Top 14.
Racing Métro, which had barely missed out on promotion the previous season, easily won the title, clinching with three rounds to spare. The three promotion playoff games were decided by a total of 5 points, with the semifinal between Albi and La Rochelle being tied after extra time and decided on the third step of the tiebreaker, penalties scored during the match. Albi ultimately defeated Oyonnax in the final to secure an immediate return to the Top 14.
The two newly promoted teams, Colomiers and Bourg-en-Bresse, were in relegation trouble throughout the season, but Colomiers escaped, finishing in 14th, the last safe spot. Bourg-en-Bresse were provisionally joined in relegation by Béziers.
However, this did not end the relegation saga. In order to keep a professional license and stay in Pro D2, all clubs must pass a postseason audit conducted by DNACG (Direction nationale d'aide et de contrôle de gestion), the LNR's financial arm. On June 12, DNACG announced that Tarbes and Bourg-en-Bresse had failed their audits and would be relegated. Tarbes would be relegated to Fédérale 1, while Bourg-en-Bresse, already consigned to Fédérale 1, would face a further drop to Fédérale 2. Béziers would have been spared the drop if Tarbes had not successfully appealed its relegation. However, Tarbes were able to come up with sufficient financial guarantees to satisfy DNACG, and its relegation to Fédérale 1 was officially rescinded on June 26.
The LNR uses a slightly different bonus points system from that used in most other rugby competitions. It trialled a new system in 2007–08 explicitly designed to prevent a losing team from earning more than one bonus point in a match, a system that also makes it impossible for either team to earn a bonus point in a drawn match. LNR chose to continue with this system for 2008–09.
France's bonus point system operates as follows:
4 points for a win.2 points for a draw.1 "bonus" point for winning while scoring at least 3 more tries than the opponent. This replaces the standard bonus point for scoring 4 tries regardless of the match result.1 "bonus" point for losing by 7 points (or less).Schedule and results
Matches are listed in the following order:
- By date.
- If matches are held on the same day, by kickoff time.
- Otherwise, in alphabetic order of home club.
All times CET.
Round 1
6 September, 18:30 — Aurillac 11 - 6 (1 BP) Albi6 September, 18:30 — Béziers 15 - 15 Pau6 September, 18:30 — Grenoble (1 BP) 31 - 6 Colomiers6 September, 18:30 — La Rochelle 30 - 12 Oyonnax6 September, 18:30 — Lyon 18 - 9 Racing Métro6 September, 18:30 — Narbonne 6 - 6 Tarbes7 September, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 18 - 25 Bordeaux-Bègles7 September, 15:15 — Agen 30 - 16 AuchRound 2
13 September, 18:30 — Albi 26 - 19 (1 BP) Grenoble13 September, 18:30 — Auch 21 - 16 (1 BP) Narbonne13 September, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 24 - 12 Béziers13 September, 18:30 — Colomiers 20 - 6 Lyon13 September, 18:30 — Pau 27 - 15 Agen13 September, 18:30 — Tarbes (1 BP) 15 - 16 Aurillac14 September, 15:00 — Racing Métro 12 - 9 (1 BP) La Rochelle14 September, 16:00 — Oyonnax (1 BP) 38 - 8 Bourg-en-BresseRound 3
20 September, 18:30 — Agen 26 - 19 (1 BP) Oyonnax20 September, 18:30 — Aurillac (1 BP) 49 - 19 Bordeaux-Bègles20 September, 18:30 — La Rochelle 15 - 12 (1 BP) Auch20 September, 18:30 — Lyon (1 BP) 56 - 3 Tarbes20 September, 18:30 — Narbonne 16 - 25 Racing Métro21 September, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 12 - 18 Albi21 September, 15:00 — Grenoble 22 - 9 Pau21 September, 15:15 — Colomiers (1 BP) 38 - 17 BéziersRound 4
27 September, 18:30 — Albi 28 - 22 (1 BP) Narbonne27 September, 18:30 — Auch 24 - 6 Bourg-en-Bresse27 September, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles (1 BP) 22 - 23 La Rochelle27 September, 18:30 — Oyonnax 22 - 15 (1 BP) Lyon27 September, 18:30 — Pau 30 - 23 (1 BP) Colomiers27 September, 18:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 35 - 16 Aurillac27 September, 18:30 — Tarbes 34 - 24 Agen28 September, 15:15 — Béziers 16 - 25 GrenobleRound 5
4 October, 18:30 — Agen (1 BP) 14 - 17 Bordeaux-Bègles4 October, 18:30 — Aurillac 30 - 26 (1 BP) Oyonnax4 October, 18:30 — Béziers 22 - 19 (1 BP) Auch4 October, 18:30 — Colomiers 15 - 15 Narbonne4 October, 18:30 — Grenoble (1 BP)10 - 16 Racing Métro4 October, 18:30 — Lyon (1 BP) 15 - 22 (1 BP) Albi5 October, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 22 - 16 (1 BP) Tarbes5 October, 15:15 — La Rochelle 18 - 14 (1 BP) PauRound 6
18 October, 18:30 — Agen (1 BP) 62 - 9 Bourg-en-Bresse18 October, 18:30 — Albi 29 - 22 (1 BP) La Rochelle18 October, 18:30 — Auch 15 - 9 (1 BP) Grenoble18 October, 18:30 — Narbonne 26 - 17 Bordeaux-Bègles18 October, 18:30 — Oyonnax 16 - 3 Pau18 October, 18:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 37 - 9 Béziers18 October, 18:30 — Tarbes 25 - 10 Colomiers19 October, 14:00 — Lyon 19 - 13 (1 BP) AurillacRound 7
25 October, 18:30 — Béziers 9 - 30 (1 BP) Oyonnax25 October, 18:30 — Grenoble 23 - 19 (1 BP) Tarbes25 October, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 23 - 18 (1 BP) Lyon25 October, 18:30 — Narbonne 25 - 22 (1 BP) Agen25 October, 18:30 — Pau 16 - 15 (1 BP) Racing Métro26 October, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 11 - 20 Aurillac26 October, 15:00 — Colomiers 24 - 15 Auch26 October, 15:15 — Bordeaux-Bègles 19 - 6 AlbiRound 8
1 November, 18:30 — Agen 18 - 12 (1 BP) Grenoble1 November, 18:30 — Auch 17 - 12 (1 BP) Pau1 November, 18:30 — Aurillac (1 BP) 31 - 9 Narbonne1 November, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 56 - 18 Bourg-en-Bresse1 November, 18:30 — Lyon 12 - 10 (1 BP) Béziers1 November, 18:30 — Oyonnax 16 - 16 Albi1 November, 18:30 — Tarbes 31 - 15 Bordeaux2 November, 16:45 — Racing Métro 9 - 8 (1 BP) ColomiersRound 9
8 November, 18:30 — Albi 30 - 20 Colomiers8 November, 18:30 — Aurillac 25 - 19 (1 BP) La Rochelle8 November, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles (1 BP) 14 - 18 Pau8 November, 18:30 — Grenoble 21 - 20 (1 BP) Lyon8 November, 18:30 — Narbonne 22 - 21 (1 BP) Bourg-en-Bresse8 November, 18:30 — Oyonnax 25 - 9 Auch8 November, 18:30 — Tarbes (1 BP) 16 - 23 Racing Métro9 November, 15:15 — Béziers 21 - 16 (1 BP) AgenRound 10
15 November, 18:30 — Agen 19 - 16 (1 BP) La Rochelle15 November, 18:30 — Albi 18 - 12 (1 BP) Tarbes15 November, 18:30 — Auch 15 - 5 Bordeaux-Bègles15 November, 18:30 — Colomiers 15 - 30 (1 BP) Aurillac15 November, 18:30 — Pau 21 - 16 (1 BP) Lyon15 November, 18:30 — Racing Métro 31 - 20 Oyonnax16 November, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 9 - 3 (1 BP) Béziers16 November, 15:15 — Narbonne 6 - 3 (1 BP) GrenobleRound 11
29 November, 18:30 — Agen 36 - 17 Colomiers29 November, 18:30 — Aurillac 29 - 22 (1 BP) Grenoble29 November, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 15 - 9 (1 BP) Oyonnax29 November, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 33 - 9 Béziers29 November, 18:30 — Lyon 14 - 13 (1 BP) Narbonne29 November, 18:30 — Pau 22 - 9 Bourg-en-Bresse30 November, 15:15 — Tarbes 26 - 12 Auch30 November, 16:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 36 - 17 AlbiRound 12
6 December, 18:30 — Albi 16 - 13 (1 BP) Pau6 December, 18:30 — Béziers 25 - 16 Aurillac6 December, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 33 - 12 Colomiers6 December, 18:30 — Grenoble 12 - 12 Bourg-en-Bresse6 December, 18:30 — Lyon (1 BP) 12 - 13 Agen6 December, 18:30 — Narbonne 33 - 16 La Rochelle6 December, 18:30 — Oyonnax 12 - 6 (1 BP) Tarbes7 December, 15:15 — Auch 22 - 18 (1 BP) Racing MétroRound 13
13 December, 18:30 — Albi 20 - 14 (1 BP) Auch13 December, 18:30 — Aurillac (1 BP) 16 - 20 Agen13 December, 18:30 — Colomiers 24 - 16 (1 BP) Oyonnax13 December, 18:30 — Pau (1 BP) 33 - 3 Narbonne13 December, 18:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 22 - 6 Bordeaux-Bègles13 December, 18:30 — Tarbes 23 - 10 Béziers14 December, 14:30 — Grenoble 14 - 6 La Rochelle14 December, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 18 - 23 LyonRound 14
20 December, 18:30 — Auch 11 - 9 (1 BP) Aurillac20 December, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 32 - 9 Colomiers20 December, 18:30 — Narbonne (1 BP) 34 - 8 Béziers20 December, 18:30 — Oyonnax 9 - 3 (1 BP) Grenoble20 December, 18:30 — Pau 12 - 11 (1 BP) Tarbes21 December, 14:30 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 10 - 17 Racing Métro21 December, 15:00 — Bordeaux-Bègles 28 - 37 (1 BP) Lyon21 December, 15:15 — Agen 20 - 8 AlbiRound 15
10 January, 18:30 — Béziers 21 - 21 Albi10 January, 18:30 — Colomiers 13 - 3 Bourg-en-Bresse10 January, 18:30 — Grenoble 13 - 12 (1 BP) Bordeaux-Bègles10 January, 18:30 — Tarbes (1 BP) 10 - 12 La Rochelle11 January, 15:00 — Oyonnax (1 BP) 42 - 17 Narbonne11 January, 15:15 — Lyon 9 - 3 (1 BP) Auch14 February, 18:30 — Aurillac 13 - 22 Pau15 February, 14:00 — Racing Métro 32 - 28 (1 BP) AgenRound 16
17 January, 18:30 — Auch 12 - 20 Agen17 January, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles (1 BP) 45 - 12 Bourg-en-Bresse17 January, 18:30 — Oyonnax 18 - 12 (1 BP) La Rochelle17 January, 18:30 — Pau 27 - 14 Béziers17 January, 18:30 — Tarbes 27 - 8 Narbonne18 January, 14:15 — Albi (1 BP) 28 - 12 Aurillac18 January, 15:00 — Colomiers 12 - 6 (1 BP) Grenoble18 January, 15:00 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 30 - 6 LyonRound 17
24 January, 18:30 — La Rochelle 22 - 11 Racing Métro24 January, 18:30 — Lyon 9 - 9 Colomiers25 January, 14:30 — Agen 28 - 14 Pau25 January, 15:00 — Aurillac 17 - 37 Tarbes25 January, 15:00 — Béziers 18 - 12 (1 BP) Bordeaux-Bègles25 January, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 3 - 9 Oyonnax25 January, 15:00 — Grenoble (1 BP) 9 - 13 Albi25 January, 15:30 — Narbonne (1 BP) 6 - 13 AuchRound 18
31 January, 18:30 — Albi (1 BP) 31 - 18 Bourg-en-Bresse31 January, 18:30 — Auch (1 BP) 5 - 6 La Rochelle31 January, 18:30 — Béziers 12 - 6 (1 BP) Colomiers31 January, 18:30 — Pau 9 - 8 (1 BP) Grenoble31 January, 18:30 — Tarbes 19 - 16 (1 BP) Lyon1 February, 14:45 — Oyonnax 19 - 3 Agen1 February, 15:00 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 37 - 10 Narbonne1 February, 15:15 — Bordeaux-Bègles 29 - 18 AurillacRound 19
7 February, 15:00 — Narbonne 10 - 9 (1 BP) Albi7 February, 16:00 — Grenoble 12 - 8 (1 BP) Béziers7 February, 16:00 — Lyon 9 - 6 (1 BP) Oyonnax8 February, 15:00 — Agen (1 BP) 45 - 23 Tarbes8 February, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 36 - 0 Auch8 February, 15:00 — Colomiers 18 - 13 (1 BP) Pau8 February, 15:00 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 13 -16 Bordeaux-Bègles8 February, 17:15 — Aurillac 16 - 35 Racing MétroRound 20
21 February, 18:30 — Albi 19 - 13 (1 BP) Lyon21 February, 18:30 — Auch (1 BP) 32 - 8 Béziers21 February, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 37 - 28 Agen21 February, 18:30 — Narbonne 37 - 24 Colomiers21 February, 18:30 — Oyonnax (1 BP) 34 - 7 Aurillac21 February, 18:30 — Tarbes (1 BP) 59 - 9 Bourg-en-Bresse22 February, 15:00 — Racing Métro 15 - 7 Grenoble22 February, 15:15 — Pau 20 - 19 (1 BP) La RochelleRound 21
28 February, 18:30 — Aurillac 18 - 9 Lyon28 February, 18:30 — Béziers 19 - 51 (1 BP) Racing Métro28 February, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 26 - 22 Narbonne28 February, 18:30 — Colomiers 20 - 16 (1 BP) Tarbes28 February, 18:30 — Grenoble 26 - 3 Auch28 February, 18:30 — Pau 15 - 12 (1 BP) Oyonnax1 March, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 18 - 65 (1 BP) Agen1 March, 15:15 — La Rochelle 19 - 16 (1 BP) AlbiRound 22
7 March, 18:30 — Agen 20 - 6 Narbonne7 March, 18:30 — Albi 20 - 17 (1 BP) Bordeaux-Bègles7 March, 18:30 — Auch 17 - 12 (1 BP) Colomiers7 March, 18:30 — Aurillac 23 - 17 (1 BP) Bourg-en-Bresse7 March, 18:30 — Lyon 27 - 12 La Rochelle7 March, 18:30 — Racing Métro 28 - 10 Pau7 March, 18:30 — Tarbes 10 - 3 (1 BP) Grenoble8 March, 15:45 — Oyonnax (1 BP) 35 - 6 BéziersRound 23
14 March, 18:30 — Béziers 17 - 56 (1 BP) Lyon14 March, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 12 - 27 Tarbes14 March, 18:30 — Colomiers 19 - 27 Racing Métro14 March, 18:30 — Grenoble (1 BP) 16 - 20 Agen14 March, 18:30 — Narbonne 23 - 23 Aurillac14 March, 18:30 — Pau 25 - 14 Auch15 March, 14:00 — Albi 30 - 13 Oyonnax15 March, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 20 - 38 (1 BP) La RochelleRound 24
21 March, 18:30 — Agen (1 BP) 51 - 16 Béziers21 March, 18:30 — Auch 15 - 12 (1 BP) Oyonnax21 March, 18:30 — La Rochelle 33 - 19 Aurillac21 March, 18:30 — Pau (1 BP) 22 - 27 Bordeaux-Bègles21 March, 18:30 — Racing Métro 25 - 16 Tarbes22 March, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 24 - 16 Narbonne22 March, 15:00 — Colomiers (1 BP) 31 - 37 Albi22 March, 15:15 — Lyon (1 BP) 45 - 6 GrenobleRound 25
4 April, 18:30 — Aurillac 25 - 15 Colomiers4 April, 18:30 — Béziers (1 BP) 23 - 26 Bourg-en-Bresse4 April, 18:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 25 - 8 Auch4 April, 18:30 — Grenoble 23 - 16 (1 BP) Narbonne4 April, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 23 - 25 Agen4 April, 18:30 — Lyon 25 - 12 Pau4 April, 18:30 — Tarbes 20 - 11 Albi5 April, 15:15 — Oyonnax 28 - 13 Racing MétroRound 26
11 April, 18:30 — Auch 6 - 16 Tarbes11 April, 18:30 — Béziers 15 - 9 (1 BP) La Rochelle11 April, 18:30 — Grenoble (1 BP) 17 - 20 Aurillac11 April, 18:30 — Narbonne 6 - 26 Lyon11 April, 19:00 — Oyonnax 18 - 17 (1 BP) Bordeaux-Bègles12 April, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 31 - 12 Pau12 April, 15:00 — Colomiers 19 - 28 Agen12 April, 16:00 — Albi 14 - 26 Racing MétroRound 27
18 April, 18:30 — Aurillac 25 - 24 (1 BP) Béziers18 April, 18:30 — Colomiers (1 BP) 44 - 16 Bordeaux-Bègles18 April, 18:30 — La Rochelle (1 BP) 37 - 16 Narbonne18 April, 18:30 — Pau 11 - 3 Albi18 April, 18:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 35 - 13 Auch18 April, 18:30 — Tarbes 24 - 15 Oyonnax19 April, 15:00 — Bourg-en-Bresse 19 - 6 Grenoble19 April, 15:15 — Agen (1 BP) 25 - 0 LyonRound 28
25 April, 18:30 — Agen 23 - 12 Aurillac25 April, 18:30 — Auch (1 BP) 7 - 11 Albi25 April, 18:30 — Béziers 35 - 19 Tarbes25 April, 18:30 — La Rochelle 23 - 7 Grenoble25 April, 18:30 — Lyon (1 BP) 27 - 10 Bourg-en-Bresse25 April, 18:30 — Narbonne 21 - 15 (1 BP) Pau25 April, 18:30 — Oyonnax 27 - 16 Colomiers26 April, 17:30 — Bordeaux-Bègles 12 - 33 (1 BP) Racing MétroRound 29
2 May, 18:30 — Albi 30 - 23 (1 BP) Agen2 May, 18:30 — Aurillac 37 - 36 (1 BP) Auch2 May, 18:30 — Béziers 37 - 18 Narbonne2 May, 18:30 — Grenoble 10 - 18 Oyonnax2 May, 18:30 — Lyon (1 BP) 30 - 10 Bordeaux-Bègles2 May, 18:30 — Racing Métro (1 BP) 48 - 32 Bourg-en-Bresse2 May, 18:30 — Tarbes 23 - 22 (1 BP) Pau3 May, 14:15 — Colomiers 15 - 29 La Rochelle (1 BP)Round 30
17 May, 14:15 — Agen 32 - 17 Racing Métro17 May, 14:15 — Albi (1 BP) 24 - 6 Béziers17 May, 14:15 — Auch (1 BP) 10 - 12 Lyon17 May, 14:15 — Bordeaux-Bègles (1 BP) 19 - 21 Grenoble17 May, 14:15 — Bourg-en-Bresse (1 BP) 52 - 27 Colomiers17 May, 14:15 — La Rochelle 19 - 13 (1 BP) Tarbes17 May, 14:15 — Narbonne 16 - 29 Oyonnax17 May, 14:15 — Pau (1 BP) 16 - 19 AurillacAll times CEST.
