The future comes down to a single match. The Union Amicale Sportive des Cheminots (UASC), eleventh in the XXL Energy Top 12, and the Rugby Club des Soldats Anosibe (RCSA), the runner-up of the Top 20, will face off this Sunday at 9:00 AM at the Makis Andohatapenaka stadium. This decisive play-off will determine their division for the next season.
After several weeks of hiatus, the national championship is entering its final stretch. Founded in 1948, the Cheminots club is one of the historic teams of Malagasy rugby. Born among railway employees, it has long been a national reference and has played in several championship final phases. A finalist in the Top 8 in 2014 against TFM Ankasina, the team had to go through a play-off last February to ensure its place in the elite, securing a 22-16 victory against 3FAI.
Finishing eleventh in the Top 12 after the regular season, UAS Cheminot has not had an easy campaign. The club collected only 14 points in eleven matches, with two wins and nine losses. This record placed them in the danger zone, forcing them to play this match to defend their spot.
Aware of the importance of Sunday’s meeting, Jean de Dieu Rakotonirina, the UASC coach, shared his thoughts: “We will do our best to seek victory in the match. A relegation to the Top 20 would have harmful consequences for the club.”
RCSA approaches this encounter with some frustration, but also with intact motivation. As the runner-up of the Top 20 after a 36-41 defeat against RCI, the Anosibe club was inches away from securing a direct ticket to the elite league.
However, this defeat did not end RCSA’s ambitions. Thanks to their status as Top 20 finalists, the club retains one last chance to reach the elite. This time, the equation is simple: they must win. Against UAS Cheminot, RCSA players will need to turn their frustration into energy and confirm on the field the ambitions shown throughout the season.
In a knockout match, both teams start on virtually equal footing. UAS Cheminot will need to show more control and efficiency to contain an RCSA side arriving with the momentum of their Top 20 final. The battle could be decided as much by commitment as by the management of key moments. RCSA must avoid rushing, despite the stakes of promotion. For its part, UAS Cheminot must resist the pressure and take advantage of every opportunity to make its opponent doubt.
Confident, RCSA captain Désiré Rafidimanana, nicknamed “Député Fidy,” believes that “my teammates possess the necessary qualities to compete with a club as experienced as UASC. Our goal is clear: promotion to the Top 12.”
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-02 06:23:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/rugby-xv-barrage-rcsa-et-uasc-jouent.html