Pro D2 (France) 2026/27

The Pro D2 is the second tier of the French rugby union league system, situated below the Top 14 and above the Nationale. Organized by the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, it has operated as a professional league since 2000. The competition was established as a professional league in 2000, with the 2000–2001 season being the first professional edition. Prior to this, the second tier was known as the "2nd Division" and later "Élite 2". The league has consistently been known as Pro D2 since 2001.

The league currently consists of 16 clubs. The season format involves a double round-robin regular season comprising 30 rounds. The top six teams qualify for the playoffs. The 1st and 2nd placed teams receive a bye to the semi-finals, while the 3rd through 6th placed teams play quarter-finals. The semi-final winners meet in a final to determine the champion. Promotion and relegation are strict. The Pro D2 champion is automatically promoted to the Top 14. The runner-up plays a single-match "barrage" against the 13th-placed team in the Top 14. The winner secures the final promotion spot. Conversely, the 16th-placed Pro D2 team is automatically relegated to the Nationale. The 15th-placed team plays a barrage against the runner-up of the Nationale. All promotions are contingent upon passing a financial audit by the LNR.

The league differs from the Top 14 primarily through its lower salary cap. The Pro D2 also operates with stricter adherence to the salary cap without the "premium player" exceptions often available in the Top 14. Lyon OU is the most successful club in the competition's history with 5 titles. The current champion is RC Vannes. The 2024–2025 champion was US Montauban. The competition differs from the Top 14 primarily through its lower salary cap (approximately €10–11 million compared to the Top 14's higher cap) and the specific "barrage" mechanism that links the two tiers.