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 themselves.
Up next, a team that brings patience, explosive footwork, and a healthy dose of chaos to the track: Le Roller Derby de Lomme, also known as the Bad Bunnies.
Here is the essential intel on the heavyweights from Lomme:
Home City: Lomme, France
Euro Seed: #12
Sanctioned Form: 🟢 🔴 🟢 🟢 🟢
Team Colours: Black and Red (and white when required)
Vibe: “We’re archaeologists – we dig, we take our time, and the treasure always comes at the end.”
Instagram: @lomme_roller_derby
Strategy: Studying Tape
The Bad Bunnies are incredibly proud to be ranked among the top 12 teams in European Roller Derby. Leading up to the April 1st cutoff, Lomme’s main focus was heavily concentrated on defending that position and securing their spot against immense pressure from the rest of the region.
Now that they have successfully punched their ticket, their strategy revolves around hitting the film room. To prepare for Namur, Lomme is rewatching games to see what worked well for them during the high-pressure moments of the season. They are focused on learning how to use their strengths to improve their results against amazing opponents, and they plan to line up “nothing but stars” for the tournament as they prepare to face off against the #6 seed, London Brawling, in Game 1.
Photo Credit: Track & Trail Sports Photography
Identity: Unpredictable Tripods
When Lomme takes the track, opponents need to be prepared for anything. This team prides itself on building really strong and sturdy tripods, featuring blockers who possess phenomenal footwork. They also boast incredible super synergy between their jammers and their offense.
However, if you ask the team what their absolute signature strength is, the answer is simple: their main strength is always being unpredictable.
Photo Credit: Roller Derby On Film
Unsung Heroes: Dynamic Duo
If you want to know who to watch out for this June, Lomme’s roster features two absolute defensive standouts. Bad Bunnies has to shine the spotlight on two teammates who are “absolutely incredible on the track” – Tata (#42) and Kraken (#434).
Tata (#42): Described as a skater who is “everywhere,” Tata is a powerful and super agile threat.
“She’ll come out of nowhere to hit the jammer and snatch the lead right out of their hands in a second, sending them back to be recycled. She’s powerful, but also super agile 🥳”
Kraken (#434): Kraken brings amazing skating skills and style to the pack.
“She’ll knock someone out of bounds and then pull off some hip-hop-style moves to stay inbounds like a jammer herself. She always manages those last-second saves and recycles with serious style. Her footwork is absolutely incredible 🤩”
Surviving the Bubble
Lomme is no stranger to the intense pressure of the postseason, and their path to Namur is built on a legacy of surviving the intense.
Long before their appearance at the 2024 European Regional Championships in Malmö, the Bad Bunnies were burrowing their way on the global stage. Back in 2019, their global ranking was so strong that they bypassed the European Continental Cup entirely, securing a direct invite to the WFTDA Playoffs in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Entering as the #11 seed, they famously stunned Helsinki Roller Derby by jumping to a quick 18-0 lead in the opening jams before eventually moving to the consolation bracket to face off against California’s legendary Bay Area Derby.
Fast forward to 2026, and defending their ticket to Namur required walking through fire. If you were following the chaos at EuroClash in Newcastle this past March, you know exactly how hard Lomme had to fight in the ultimate, last-chance saloon for postseason survival.
In a zero-sum battle for the #12 seed, they put on a defensive masterclass. Anchored by skaters like Brutus (#16) directing the walls, Lomme pulled off a gritty 110-98 victory over Göteborg and a dominant, albeit shortened, 158-138 win against the Tiger Bay Brawlers. They didn’t just survive the bubble; they defended it with everything they had.
Photo Credit: Miki Alice Photography
Namur Forecast
While the Bad Bunnies are ready to unleash their unpredictable gameplay, they are equally excited to be spectators at Euro Champs. Aside from their own matchups, the team is highly anticipating another Paris vs. Toulouse game, noting that it comes just two months after Paris secured a massive win.
Above all, Lomme is heading to Belgium ready to cheer on all the French teams in the bracket. For the Bad Bunnies, French roller derby is fundamentally about mutual support and solidarity. This respect goes both ways; when we spoke to Paris Roller Derby (more from them soon!) they specifically shouted out Lomme, saying…
“We can’t wait to see our friends from LOMME on the track. We know the season hasn’t been the easiest for them, but we also know they’re capable of bouncing back and showing just how incredible they are!”
Lomme’s final thoughts – Long live the Bad Bunnies!
Think You Can Predict the Chaos?
Is it time for you to make your postseason debut? Get amongst it!
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 bet on the heavy favourites, or will you bank on teams like Lomme to outlast the competition and break the bracket?
ENTER THE EDN PREDICTION HUB HERE
Pack is here!
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