French handball clubs begin Coupe de France competition

In French handball, several clubs are beginning their competitive seasons in the Coupe de France. Racing Club Épernay Handball (RCEHB), newly promoted to Nationale 3, will open its season on August 29 with a home match against Saint-Brice-Courcelles, a Nationale 1 team. The club has announced that all home matches this season will be free to the public to encourage community engagement.

In another Coupe de France matchup, Pau Billère Handball secured a significant upset by defeating Starligue side Pays d’Aix with a score of 33-27. Despite missing key players, Billère utilized an aggressive defense and a tactical lineup to overcome the favored Aix team, which was hampered by several injuries.