The big freeze has been and gone. All that maths is finally over, and the invitations to the 2026 WFTDA European Championships in Namur have been sent. Between now and the first whistle on 12 June, we are going to be shining a spotlight on the incredible Euro Derby Dozen who will be descending on Belgium. In absolutely no particular order, this series will break down the strategies, the identities, and the unsung heroes of Europe’s elite, hearing from the skaters and teams themselves.
Looking for a squad bringing a glittery finish to a gritty, unpredictable, and highly strategic game, look no further than western France. Nantes Roller Derby are heading to Namur with a top 5 seeding, a battle-tested roster, and an underdog mentality that makes them a certified threat to the bracket.
Here is the essential intel on the heavyweights from Nantes:
Home City: Nantes, France
Euro Seed: #5
Sanctioned Form: 🟢 🔴 🟢 🟢 🟢
Team Colours: Green & Black
Vibe: “A united, ambitious and unpredictable team with a feminist and inclusive foundation and a glitter finish”
Instagram: @nantes_roller_derby
Photo Credit: @arnaud_masson_photographe
Strategy: Sanctioning for the Scene
While many teams spend the season agonising over the WFTDA algorithm and hiding their rankings from potential mathematical drops, Nantes has taken the opposite approach. They are staunch supporters of playing heavily sanctioned schedules.
For Nantes, turning the calculators on isn’t just about their own postseason destiny; it is a duty to the broader community. They actively aim to sanction as many games as possible to provide high-quality data to the WFTDA, support European officials in their development, and showcase the immense depth of the European scene on the international stage.
Furthermore, they had more than just WFTDA ranking on the line this season. Nantes has spent the spring simultaneously playing for a French Championship medal, adding an entirely separate layer of stakes and pressure to their domestic matchups.
Photo Credit: Antoine @antnrx
Identity: Self-Coached and Ready for Champs
Nantes brings a beautiful duality to the track, combining a deeply rooted feminist and inclusive foundation with an aggressive, competitive edge.
As a self-coached team for several years, their success is built entirely on internal trust and collaboration. To prepare for the postseason, they spent the last few months working diligently to combine their rock-solid foundations with a willingness to experiment.
Hosting Yeti or Not allowed them to test new techniques and increase their overall track intensity in a competitive environment. Despite their top#5 seeding and having previously “made it to Champs” in past seasons, they consciously hold onto their grassroots identity.
Photo Credit: Antoine @antnrx
“We have a real underdog mentality,” the team shared. “Even though we made it to Champs, we know we have to start from scratch again, and that the path ahead will be long and challenging. The European level is incredibly tight and high now, and we can’t wait to come together.“
Unsung Heroes: Silent Assassins
When asked to highlight a single skater flying under the radar for the European community to watch out for this June, Nantes made it clear that their dangerous depth cannot be summarised by a single name.
“It’s hard to single out just one skater – honestly, a big part of our roster is still flying under the radar“
However, the team did point directly to a few massive breakout threats that opponents overlook at their own peril:
Photo Credit: Antoine @antnrx
Valère: Explicitly called out by the league as a premier threat. The team notes that “at the last Regionals, Valère was described as a ‘silent assassin,’ which really speaks for itself.”
Pouffanar: A skater who has become an absolute force in the rotation. The team highlighted that “Pouffanar has shown explosive progression and can deliver very precise and powerful moves.”
Adèle Rainbow: While she stepped up to jam when the team was short at the last postseason tournament, Nantes dropped a fascinating hint about her structural role for Namur, noting she is “ready to be unleashed as an incredible blocker.” Looking at the numbers from West Track Story 11, where Rainbow absolutely dominated by receiving a tournament-high 9 star passes as a relief pivot, it is easy to see why they want those skills anchoring that back line. The ultimate safety net.
Recent Showdowns: WTS 11 Grinder & “Out and Down” Meta
To understand why this team is ready for the postseason pressure, you only have to look at the reality of their games at the Gymnase du Croissant during West Track Story 11.
Our reporting from Nantes revealed a brutal, super aggressive shift in the sport’s tactical landscape: the “Out and Down” meta. Jammers are no longer simply getting hit out of bounds; blockers are taking zero chances, using relentless positioning to ensure jammers are hit out and down on the floor to maximise penalties. No chances, no mercy.
Nantes wielded and weathered this intense style beautifully. Their game against London Brawling was a classic middleweight grinder. Lifted by a phenomenal home crowd, Nantes went on an absolute tear in the second period, securing Lead Jammer 8 times in a row to build a commanding lead. Even when London launched a fierce 37 point comeback over two jams, Nantes kept their composure, claiming the final points to seal a 140-131 upset win that actively pulled their overall ranking upward.
Against #2 (at the time) ranked Rainy City, Nantes faced a completely different beast. Though they took a 183-86 loss, fighting tooth and nail for those 86 points on the track saved them from a ranking free-fall. Closing out the weekend with a hard-fought 1-2 record, Nantes proved they can weather the storm and use high-pressure games to sharpen their track awareness for June.
Namur Forecast
When looking at the tournament outside of their own games, Nantes isn’t focused on pulling apart rankings or jumping into heavy bracket predictions. Instead, they are genuinely eager to witness a specific parallel journey unfold in Belgium:
“We’re really curious to see how Antwerp will perform – we’ve been following their progression for a while now, and it reminds us a lot of our own journey.“
Because scheduling clashes meant they didn’t get a chance to face off against Antwerp directly this year, Nantes highlighted that they are incredibly excited to finally watch them take the track. Additionally, they noted that if the tournament bracket serves up another classic French rivalry match between Paris and Toulouse, they will absolutely be trackside to watch the sparks fly.
Think You Can Predict the Chaos?
Speaking of tearing up brackets, the official EDN x WFTDA Prediction Hub is officially open for business! We’ve partnered with Challonge to bring you an ad-free platform to test your derby knowledge against the rest of the community.
It’s a classic Bracket Challenge!
Because we love the chaos, we’ve opened the entire postseason slate at once. You can lock in your picks for every bracket right now, but don’t wait too long, brackets lock automatically the moment the first jam of Game 1 starts. Will you bank on the top seeds, or do you think an unpredictable force like Nantes will completely upend the table?
ENTER THE EDN x WFTDA PREDICTION HUB HERE
Pack is here!
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