Actualités · 6 February 2026
2026 Pétanque Transfer Window: The headache of the new star teams!
Transfers, new triplettes, favourites for the 2026 Nationals: the pétanque transfer window is buzzing. Discover the moves that will reshuffle the deck this season.The 2026 mercato calendar
The pétanque mercato is nothing like football with its official windows — transfers can happen throughout the year according to the rules of each regional federation. But in practice, the big decisions are concentrated between November and February, before the major spring competitions resume.
November 2025 Post-French-Championship reflection period. The season's results are analysed, loyalty contracts come to an end in several major southern clubs. December 2025 First departure announcements. Several leading shooters announce their departure from their historic club via social media. The pétanque forums light up. January 2026 The peak period for signings. The majority of official transfers are recorded with the departmental committees. The new FFPJP digital licence considerably simplifies the administrative procedures. February 2026 Revealing of the official line-ups. The clubs unveil their triplettes for the Regional Masters. A few last-minute surprises are still making the news. March 2026 — now The new teams enter competition. It's the moment of truth — on the grounds, not on social media. First assessment expected at the Marseille and Lyon Masters.The transfers you shouldn't have missed
This season, it's a real game of musical chairs among the elite. We note strategic movements within the biggest French clubs. Here are the most talked-about transfers on the circuit:
MR Marco Rinaldi Lead shooter — former best iron shooter on the 2024 circuit ✓ Official 📍 Amicale Marseille 13 → 📍 Club Bouliste de LyonThe most resounding transfer of the winter. Rinaldi, known for his repeated full-iron carreaux, leaves his training club after 8 years to join Lyon and form a triplette with the Carretero brothers. A technical alliance that has observers salivating — and opponents trembling.
SC Stéphane Coste Precision pointer — PACA Regional Champion 2023 ✓ Official 📍 Boule d'Or Toulon → 📍 Pétanque Club BordeauxCoste had wanted for two years to play in a club that would offer him more tactical freedom. Bordeaux offers him the role of first pointer in a completely overhauled triplette. A risky bet for a player who has never left the South — but potentially very explosive.
L.B. Luc & Bruno Carretero Midfielder/shooter duo — inseparable for 15 years 🔥 Surprise 📍 AS Montpellier Pétanque → 📍 Club Bouliste de LyonThe real surprise of the mercato. The Carretero brothers, inseparable since their junior debuts, have followed the same path as Rinaldi to Lyon. The Rinaldi + Carretero triplette is on paper the most impressive of the season — but will it find its rhythm on the wild grounds of the new regulations ?
DP David Pereira Versatile middle — specialist in closing out ends under pressure 👁 One to watch 📍 Club Bouliste de Lyon → 📍 Amicale Marseille 13The reverse movement — Pereira leaves Lyon to fill the void left by Rinaldi at Marseille. A return to his roots for this player trained in the 13th, who knows the Marseille grounds better than anyone. Marseille is betting on building a younger and more ambitious triplette around him.
💬 Paquita's viewWhat's fascinating about this mercato is that Lyon have managed to build a perfect triplette on paper by picking up the pieces of a scattered puzzle. But pétanque is like cooking: the best ingredients don't guarantee the best dish. The mental complementarity is built on the ground, not in the offices.
The new line-ups to watch
Beyond the individual transfers, it's the reformation of the triplettes that defines the forces in play for the Nationals. Here are the most anticipated line-ups of the 2026 season:
Club Bouliste Lyon ⭐ Favourite MR Marco Rinaldi Shooter ↑ New BC Bruno Carretero Middle ↑ New LC Luc Carretero Pointer ↑ New PC Bordeaux 👁 Dark horse RT Rémi Tournaire Shooter SC Stéphane Coste Pointer ↑ New AM Antoine Morel Middle Amicale Marseille 13 🔄 Rebuilding DP David Pereira Middle ↑ New FN Franck Navarro Shooter YB Yannick Bernard Pointer AS Montpellier ⚠ Transition PL Patrick Laurent Shooter KD Kévin Durand Middle JM José Martinez PointerWho are the favourites for the Nationals?
With such line-ups, the predictions are heating up. The question is on everyone's lips: which triplette will manage to dominate the Masters and the French Championships 2026 ? Here is our hierarchy at the restart:
1 Club Bouliste de Lyon — Rinaldi / B. Carretero / L. Carretero The most complete triplette on paper. Everything will depend on cohesion time — three new players together is a mental challenge as much as a technical one. Favourite #1 2 PC Bordeaux — Tournaire / Coste / Morel The dark horse of the season. Coste as a free pointer in a system that suits him perfectly. Tournaire at shooting is a proven safe bet. Dark Horse 3 Amicale Marseille 13 — Pereira / Navarro / Bernard In rebuilding but on a ground that belongs to them. Pereira as the new leader can work wonders if he gets back to his 2023 level. Outsider 📅To follow these stars on the grounds and not miss any competition, check out our official 2026 competitions calendar with all the dates of the Masters, French Championships and international competitions.
The impact of the new regulations on the line-ups
These player movements don't happen in a vacuum. The new 2026 regulations deeply transforms the way triplettes must be built. Four regulatory changes have directly influenced this season's mercato:
⏱️ 30 secondsThe 30-second rule rewards fast and decisive pointers. "Slow but sure" profiles become tactically risky.
🪨 Wild groundsIrregular grounds favour powerful shooters and adaptable pointers. Smooth-ground specialists are struggling.
🧹 Sweeping bannedThe Clarified Article 10 demands a mental adaptability that some big names on the circuit struggle to absorb.
⭕ Rigid circleThe mandatory rigid circle changes the action cues of some pointers used to their "home circle".
These constraints explain why clubs have recruited more versatile profiles this season. The shooter/pointer complementarity is tested more than ever: a shooter who "eats up" time within the 30 seconds or a pointer who can't adapt to stony ground can cost their triplette whole ends.
How to follow the 2026 competitions
To analyse the performance of these new teams or to organise your own result tracking, PétanqueLand provides you with several resources:
📅Official calendar: all the dates of federal, regional and international competitions, updated in real time. See the 2026 calendar
🏛️Official results: our page Officiels Pétanque centralises the results of major competitions and the records of national teams.
🛠️Free tools: draw generator, match sheets, custom results tables. Everything to organise your season tracking. Access the tools
🪪Your 2026 licence: to take part in competitions yourself this season, check that your licence is up to date with our complete guide to the dematerialised FFPJP licence.
FAQ — Your frequent questions
When do official petanque transfers end? + Unlike football, pétanque does not have a single transfer window. The rules vary according to the regional federations and the transfer conditions differ between leisure and competition licenses. In practice, major transfers take place between November and March, with exceptional cases throughout the season depending on local regulations. Can a player play with two different clubs in the same season? + No, once the transfer has been made and the new license validated, the player can only represent one club for official competitions. In leisure with friends, there are obviously no constraints. The new digital FFPJP licence allows you to check a player's administrative situation in real time. Do the new 2026 regulations really favor certain player profiles? + Yes, clearly. The 30 second rule penalizes slow but sure players. Natural terrain favors powerful shooters and versatile pointers. Banning sweeping favors players with high mental adaptability. Our full analysis is available in our file on the return to wild pétanque. How to follow the results of the 2026 French Championships live? + Visit our page Officiels Pétanque for the updated official results, and our Actus par Paquita page for analyses, anecdotes and behind the scenes of major competitions. Is there a transfer window for amateur and leisure club players? + Yes, on a smaller scale. Transfers between leisure clubs exist in all regions, often motivated by geographical, friendly or family reasons rather than sporting ones. The procedure is simpler than in high competition — a transfer file from the departmental committee is sufficient in most cases. 📎 Related articles Competitions Official calendar of 2026 pétanque competitions Results Official results and records — Officiels Pétanque 2026 Regulation The return to “wild” pétanque — what it changes 2026 Regulations 30 seconds on the clock: the pressure rises for pointers 2026 Regulations Sweeping costs a card — Article 10 clarified Administrative New paperless FFPJP licence with QR code Tools Free tools to organise your competitions and tracking Equipment Which boules to choose to dominate the 2026 season?© Pétanque by Paquita — petanqueland.fr
Editorial and speculative content based on circuit trends. Player names are fictional.
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