The Rosa Club de l’Imerina (RCI) and the Rugby Club des Soldats d’Anosibe (RCSA) will face each other again this Sunday. The winner of this match will be promoted to the Top 12.
It is a winner-take-all match. The Madagascar Rugby XV Championship, known as Federal Elite 2 or Top 20, will finally reach its conclusion this Sunday starting at 12:00 PM at the Makis Stadium in Andohatapenaka. Two weeks after an inconclusive first final, the Rosa Club de l’Imerina (RCI) and the Rugby Club des Soldats d’Anosibe (RCSA) will meet for a highly anticipated rematch of the Top 20. On June 21, both teams finished with a 12-12 draw after 54 minutes of intense play, which was cut short due to fading light.
This time, a winner must be declared. Beyond the trophy, the primary goal is promotion to the Top 12. The champion will be directly promoted to the elite of Malagasy rugby, while the runner-up will face a playoff match against the eleventh-ranked team from the Top 12 at the end of the season. While this second chance offers hope, both teams aim to secure their promotion this Sunday.
For RCI, this promotion is a major objective, both sportingly and economically. “We hope this final will turn in our favor, allowing us to join the Top 12 elite. This will provide us with greater visibility and attract new partners to support us next season,” says manager Jean Aristide Ralaimampionona. A promotion would allow the club to reach a new milestone, and it would be a fitting gift for its 65th anniversary.
The first final was not only marked by physicality and suspense, but also by disputed officiating. In a rare move, both finalists have united in a common request: they want the appointment of a foreign referee to ensure fairness for this second final. RCSA captain Désiré Rafidimanana stated, “For the sake of fairness and transparency, we would like a foreign referee to officiate the match this Sunday.” RCI shares this demand, with coach Tahiana Herizo noting that his team felt a valid try was disallowed in the previous game.
Once the kickoff occurs, the debates of June 21 will be in the past. Both teams know that discipline, territorial control, and realism will make the difference. This time, only one club will earn its direct ticket to the Top 12.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-04 06:13:13 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/rugby-xv-finale-top-20-le-rci-et-le.html