DENIS FOGARTY AND Agen have missed out on a place in next season’s Top 14 after a 31-22 defeat to La Rochelle in yesterday’s Pro D2 promotion play-off final.
Former Munster hooker Fogarty replaced Agen captain Jalil Narjissi in the closing stages of the game, but the outcome had already been decided by that stage. La Rochelle powered into a 21-3 half time lead to leave Agen with demanding second half task.
Tries from rumoured Ulster target Louis Ludik, Mathieu Lamoulie and Apisalome Ratuniyarawa gave Fogarty and his teammates hope after the break, but a score from 38-year-old wing Sireli Bobo ultimately helped La Rochelle to victory.
Fogarty’s season ends having made 24 appearances in the Pro D2, the second busiest club campaign of the 30-year-old’s career. Agen will be among the promotion contenders again next season, when Perpignan and Biarritz join them in the French second tier.
Agen have already signed up the likes of Cardiff Blues’ flanker Luke Hamilton, Georgian international wing Tamaz Mchedlidze and France U20 lock Jean-Baptiste Roidot with that push for a Top 14 spot in mind.
