Oyonnax: The multicultural side who are thriving at the moment

After surviving relegation by the skin of their teeth last season, Oyonnax are enjoying one of the best seasons in the clubs history. They were expected to be in the midst of relegation dog fight but instead with three games to go, they are on course for securing a play-off spot and also a place in next seasons Champions Cup.

Head coach Christophe Urios has been instrumental in Oyonnax’s success and has proven that you don’t need to spend huge amounts of money on players to achieve success. Saying that Oyonnax’s squad is one of the most multicultural clubs in the world. In the all-French Champions Cup final between Toulon and Clermont there were players from 11 different countries on the pitch. Oyonnax themselves alone have a squad combined with players from 11 different countries. With lack of funds available to bring in world class players from the Southern Hemisphere, Christophe Urios has managed well with the squad available to him.

As of now Oyonnax are the form side in the league and have won 7 of their last 8 league games. Some of these wins included, home wins against Toulouse and Racing Metro and impressive away wins against Stade Francais and Clermont Auvergne.

Their stand-out player of the season has been their Argentine flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilletta. The former Harlequins player is the second highest points scorer in the league and with Oyonnax struggling to score many tries Urdapilletta single-handedly wins them games with his boot. In their last league game he scored all 21 of their points as they overcame Racing Metro.

With both European Competitions completed, Oyonnax will have three cup finals in three weeks to see if they are to secure a top 6 finish. They currently have a six point lead over their nearest challengers Montpellier and Bordeaux Begles but with their league campaign finishing away to reigning champions Toulon they know they will need to pick up points against Bordeaux and Lyon if they are to have any hope of securing a quarter-final place.

The final three games will also see the end of Christophe Urios tenure as head coach of Oyonnax. After 8 seasons at the club Urios will be joining his former club Castres at the start of next season. Oyonnax fans and players will be sad to see him go after all the great achievements he has had with the club and hope he can finish on a high. He will look to end his stay at Oyonnax by securing the club their highest placed finish and who knows maybe guide them all the way to the Stade De France for the 2015 Top14 final.