Promoted to the top flight at the start of the season after just one year away, Dijon Métropole Handball failed to avoid relegation from the Liqui Moly StarLigue. The Burgundians fought until the penultimate matchday, when their relegation was confirmed following a home defeat to Sélestat, another promoted side and their main rival in the battle to stay up. Mehdi Ighirri’s men may have some regrets after coming close to causing upsets away to Saint-Raphaël (35-34), Limoges (32-31) and Chambéry (30-28), as well as at home to Toulouse (29-31), but they have undoubtedly gained valuable experience and will aim, as they did in 2025, to spend just one season in the second tier.
Istres will be joining Dijon in the Proligue after failing to turn the tide on the final matchday. Ahead of this final fixture of the season, Chartres, Sélestat, Dunkerque and Istres were all still in danger of finishing in the relegation zone. In the end, this final match changed nothing, as the Provençal side were unable to spring the upset in Chambéry (30-28). Bastien Cismondo’s players came relatively close to defeating the Savoyards - a result emblematic of a season that tipped over to the wrong side of the balance by the narrowest of margins.
In the end, Istres finished one point behind Chartres, and will no doubt bitterly regret their home defeat to that side in February (26–28), as well as their home draw against Dijon on Matchday 28 (28–28). The duo of Emilson Araujo (134 goals) and Mohammad Sanad (127 goals) couldn't fire their side over the line, and the Taureaux were relegated to the second division after two seasons in the top flight. Drawing on their experience and character, the southerners will aim to bounce back and return to the top flight as soon as possible.
A year after a heart-breaking defeat in the play-off semi-final against Sélestat, who went on to be promoted, Saran began this Proligue campaign as favourites alongside US Ivry and US Créteil, the two Parisian sides who were relegated at the end of last season.
Luis Filipe Roque Cruz’s players lived up to the expectations placed upon them by finishing top of one of the most competitive seasons in the second tier’s recent history. On the final day of the season, Saran, Ivry and Caen all finished level on 42 points, whilst Pontault-Combaut (40) and Pau-Billère (39) were also in contention for top spot. Ultimately, thanks to a convincing victory over bottom-of-the-table Angers (48-30), the Septors avoided the gruelling play-offs for the second year running. Noa Narcisse will thus return to the top flight after making his professional debut with Paris Saint-Germain during the 2024-2025 season.
Although Caen were also among the teams to watch at the start of the season, they did not necessarily expect such a happy outcome. The Vikings rode an emotional rollercoaster throughout an historic campaign that ended with them finishing third, securing a place in the playoffs once again, a year after their defeat to Sélestat in the final. After comfortably seeing off Créteil and Pontault-Combaut in the quarters and semis, Caen found themselves up against US Ivry in the final. Having finished third behind Saran and Ivry, Sébastien Quintallet’s men did not have home advantage against the Parisian side.
After losing at home (29-31), the side led by Allan Villeminot, the regular season’s top scorer with 230 goals, were in a difficult position ahead of the return leg. In a sold-out Palais des Sports Robert Oubron in Créteil, however, the Vikings turned in a flawless performance to thrill the 300 supporters who had made the trip for the occasion. Two goals in front at the end of regulation time (22-24), Caen secured their first-ever promotion to the top flight with a legendary penalty shoot-out.
Paris Saint-Germain Handball are therefore set to face a brand-new opponent in the league. The newcomers have, however, already crossed paths with the capital club in the Coupe de France - as recently as last September. In the first round, Stefan Madsen’s men showed great determination to secure a win in Normandy and get their domestic season off to a flying start (31-43).
Paris Saint-Germain Handball, HBC Nantes, Montpellier, Limoges, Chambéry, Saint-Raphaël, Tremblay, Fenix Toulouse, Provence Aix UC, Cesson Rennes, USAM Nîmes Gard, Sélestat, Dunkerque, C'Chartres, Saran; Caen.