With the new Pro D2 season a few weeks old, Le Rugby’s financial correspondent, Huw Roe, takes a tour around the 16 outposts to see which clubs offer the best value season tickets.

Unfortunately, Huw was unable to find any prices for Mont-de-Marsan and Pau, but if you’ve ever fancied being the proud owner of a season ticket at one of the other 14 clubs then read on.

If standing is your thing then head for the pesage, in other words the terrace or grass bank. The view isn’t great and you’ll get a soaking if the heavens open, but you’ll have plenty of money left for your half-time merguez frites and pressions. Season tickets for the Pesage come no cheaper than at Narbonne’s Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié, where a mere €30 (£25) will get you access to all fifteen of RCNM’s home games. That’s less than a credit crunch busting £2 per game. Bargain. Both Albi (€45) and Auch (€50) both also offer great value and make up the three best offers. There’s a big jump to the likes of Pro D2 newcomers St Etienne (€90) and Grenoble (€95), whilst we’d probably draw the line at the €100 charged by Aurillac. Dieu knows how Tarbes (ho ho!), Carcassonne (both €120) and Union Bordeaux-Bègles (€130) have the ballons to charge so much and still not offer you a seat, while top-priced Dax (€135) are blatantly trying to recoup their outlay on Morgan Turinui. None of the other clubs offer the option of a pesage ticket.

Some clubs certainly poussez le bateau dehors when it comes to discounted season tickets for their pesage. It’s chapeaux off to Narbonne, who offer a free season ticket to any child or student. Following closely behind in the value stakes are Grenoble, who offer a free ticket to the U17s, whilst young Auch supporters can bag a free season ticket for just €25. Next in the financial queue are Tarbes (ho ho!) who charge €50 for the U17s, with Union Bordeaux-Bègles charging an extra ten euro for the U18s. Good old Grenoble offer €55 season tickets for students, disabled and the unemployed, with an extra thirty euro for women, the under 65s and any renewals. We’re back to Tarbes (ho ho!) for their €80 pesage season ticket offer for the U26s, while Dax charge a piggy-bank busting €105 for the U25s. No discounts were available from the other clubs. Indeed, Albi, Carcassonne, Lyon and St Etienne offer absolutely no discounts at all. Shame on them.

If the thought of being on your feet for fifteen games is too much then head to the relative comfort of the stand. The kings of cut price are Albi, who’ll give you a seat in the uncovered section of their stand for only €80. For those who prefer to have a roof over their heads when it rains, look no further than Aix-en-Provence whose cheapest season ticket will set you back a mere €100. That’s great value at just over a fiver a game. Following closely behind are Lyon and St Etienne (both €110), Grenoble (€115), Oyonnax (€128), Colomiers (€130) and Albi (€140), all still excellent value. Living on the outskirts of the value metropolis are Tarbes (ho ho!) and Narbonne (both €150), Carcassonne (€160), Auch (€171) and Aurillac (€185). As much as we love French rugby, we’d have to refuse the less-than-kind offers of Union Bordeaux-Bègles (€240) and Dax (€255), especially after the way both have begun this season. Talking of Dax, their top-priced package will set you back a hefty €345. However, that’s alimentation de poulet compared to Aix-en-Provence (€500) and modern day Dick Turpins Albi, who’ll make you part with a whopping €575 for their top-priced stand season ticket. We'd want a rub down with a wet lettuce at demi-temps for that sort of money.

Children and students will find the best value stand season ticket on offer at Grenoble, where €40 paper-round/drinking money will allow you to watch les Alpinistes all season. Plenty of other clubs also do their bit to attract the fans of tomorrow. The best of the rest are Aix-en-Provence who ask a measly €50. Honourable mentions should also be given to the €60 charged by Tarbes (ho ho!), Colomiers (€65), Oyonnax (€70) and Narbonne (€75). Season tickets at the likes of Auch (€85), Aurillac (€92) and Union Bordeaux-Bègles (€110) may have to be early Christmas presents, while any youngsters hoping to get a season ticket at Dax (€210) may need to be the offspring of the Chief Executive of Ricard.

Those of you that are considerate/dull/loved-up enough (delete as appropriate) to take les autre demi to the game can grab a deal at three clubs. The best offer can be had at Tarbes (ho ho!), where €230 will get you and elle à l'intérieur a stand seat for the season. Narbonne charge slightly more (€255) for the pleasure of having the missus sat next to you, gawping at the opposition inside centre’s legs. Auch ask the most (€291) to take away one the few remaining pleasures in life.

We round off this article by looking at the other perks offered by clubs when you buy a season ticket. Top of the pile are Narbonne, who offer a 10% discount for all renewals, a 10% discount in the club shop plus free entry to the nearby Stade Cassayet to watch RCNM’s other teams. Dax offer you a whopping 15% discount in the club shop, worth it if only to meet the lovely Dominique behind the counter. Both Aix-en-Provence and Grenoble will offer you a not-to-be-sniffed-at 10% discount in their club shops, with cash-strapped Albi only prepared to stretch to 5%. We end with Tarbes (ho ho!), who have frozen all season ticket prices from last season – what better reason for a hearty ho ho!