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| Club information | |||
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| Full name | Racing Club de Carpentras XIII du Comtat | ||
| Nickname(s) | The Bulls | ||
| Founded | 1938 | ||
| Website | site | ||
| Current details | |||
| Ground(s) |
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| Coach | Jerome Alonso | ||
| Manager | Maxime Pala | ||
| Competition | Elite Two Championship | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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RC Carpentras XIII are a semi-professional rugby league club based in the city of Carpentras, Vaucluse in the south of France. Formed in 1938, they play in the Elite Two Championship in France, which is the 2nd tier. Their home ground is the Stade de la Roseraire.
The club was founded in 1938 under their original name Racing Club de Carpentras XIII du Comtat. The club competed in the amateur rugby league but at the end of just their second season war broke out and brought an end to French sport. Worse was to come when the Vichy Government sanctioned sport to restart but banned rugby league. The club had to change their name to Union Sportive Carpentrassienne and were forced to play rugby union. After the war the club reverted to their original name and gained almost immediate success winning back-to-back amateur titles in 1949 and 1950 in front of regular crowds of between 1,000 and 1,500. The club turned semi-professional in 1951 after their promotion but would have to wait until 1983 to win their next silverware. The National League 1, now called the Elite Two Championship was won when they beat Toulouse Olympique in the final 14-6. A run to the Lord Derby Cup final in 1992 still represents their best run to date. In season 2000-01 they once again lifted the National League 1 title this time beating RC Albi in the final 20-15 and in 2004 they made it three 2nd tier titles when they beat UTC 2 14-10. None of these victories brought promotion for one reason or another but the following season 2004-05 promotion was secured despite losing the final to Marseille XIII 10-12. Top flight finishes followed of 10th, 10th, 5th, 6th and then 8th the last of which sent them back down to the Elite Two Championship in 2011. [1] [2]
The club's logo is a red bull uncannily similar in style to that of the club logo of American basketball team the Chicago Bulls; it has only adopted this logo in more recent times.
The Stade Municipal (Carpentras) was the club's first stadium. The first rugby league match played in Carpentras came at this ground when it hosted an exhibition game between RC Roanne XIII and Lyon Villeurbanne in 1938. The Stade Municipal had a 2,000 capacity of which 300 were seated. In 1947 the club moved to a purpose built rugby ground in the town. The Stade de la Roseraie hosted the 1955 Lord Derby Cup final when SO Avignon beat Marseille XIII 18-10 in front of a record crowd for any rugby match in Carpentras of 11,600. The current capacity is set at 5,000. The ground underwent a major refurbishment in 1997. [3]
2019-20 Season [4]
The Stade Vélodrome, known as the Orange Vélodrome for sponsorship reasons, is a multi-purpose stadium in Marseille, France. It is home to the Olympique de Marseille football club of Ligue 1 since it opened in 1937, and has been a venue in the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups; the 1960, 1984 and 2016 editions of the UEFA European Championship; and the 2007 Rugby World Cup. It occasionally hosts RC Toulon rugby club of the Top 14. It is the largest club football ground in France, with a capacity of 67,394 spectators. The stadium is also used regularly by the France national rugby union team.
The French Rugby League Cup, also called Lord Derby Cup after its championship trophy, is the premier knockout competition for the sport of rugby league football in France. The French Cup was first contested in 1934–35, which also marked the first season of the French Rugby League Championship.
Toulouse Olympique or TO XIII is a professional rugby league club in Toulouse, south-west France. Founded in 1937, two years after the French Rugby League Federation, the club is a six-time winner of the French Rugby League Championship.
The Saint-Gaudens Bears are a professional rugby league club based in the town of Saint-Gaudens, in the Haute-Garonne region of south-western France. They play in the Elite One Championship. The club was formed in 1958. They have won the French rugby league championship on four occasions and lifted the Lord Derby Cup three times. Their home ground is the Stade Jules Ribet.
Lyon Villeurbanne XIII are a semi-professional rugby league club from the town of Lyon, Rhône-Alpes in France. Formed in 1934 they are one of the oldest clubs in France. During the 1950s they won both the league and cup. They currently play in the Elite Two Championship which is the second tier. Their home stadium is the Stade Georges Lyvet and their player-coach for 2018-19 season is Sebastien Aguerra.
Villefranche XIII Aveyron are a semi-professional rugby league club based in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, Aveyron in southern France. Formed in 1950, they currently play in the Elite Two Championship. Their home stadium is the Stade Henri Lagarde.
The 2007/08 season was the fifth year of the Elite One Championship, the top level rugby league competition in France. The season commenced on 6 October 2007 and like the previous season, there were 11 teams with one team missing a round each week. A total of 22 rounds were played, with the last finishing on 12 April 2008 before the play-offs, that determined who played in the Grand Final. RC Albi were the league's new club having been promoted from the Elite Two Championship. Pia XIII were the defending champions having beaten Lézignan Sangliers in the 2006/2007 season Grand Final. The top 8 clubs qualified for the end of season play-offs. In the first week of the play-offs, Saint-Gaudens Bears and UTC both easily beat Toulouse Olympique and RC Albi respectively. However both teams were then beaten, Saint-Gaudens Bears by third placed AS Carcassonne, and UTC by Limoux Grizzlies in Week 2. Pia XIII beat AS Carcassonne in the first semi-final and a day later Lézignan Sangliers, the league leaders, squeezed past Limoux Grizzlies. In the Grand Final held at the Stade de la Mediterranee in Béziers, Lézignan Sangliers did what they had failed to do the previous season and beat Pia XIII 26-16, and thus winning the title for the first time. Despite finishing 8th and reaching the Lord Derby cup final RC Albi were relegated and Toulouse Olympique left the league and joined the English Rugby League system. SO Avignon were promoted from the 2nd tier. The Lord Derby Cup was won by Limoux Grizzlies.
Montpellier XIII Red Devils are a semi-professional rugby league club based in Montpellier, in the region of Herault, France. They currently play in the National Division 2. Their home ground is the Stade Sabathé.
Racing Club Albi XIII originally called Racing Club Albigeois XIII and more recently also known as Albi Tigers are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Albi in the Occitanie region in southern France. Formed in 1934 the club compete in the Elite One Championship the highest level of competition in France. They have won the French title on five occasions and the Lord Derby Cup once. Their current home stadium is Stade Mazicou.
Elite 2 is the second tier semi-professional rugby league competition in France below Elite 1, but above the National Division 1. The season runs from September to April. The clubs play each other home and away before entering into a series of play-off matches resulting in a Grand Final. The winners can gain promotion to Elite 1 providing they meet a minimum criteria. Occasionally the runners-up could be offered promotion.
Marseille XIII Avenir are a French Rugby league club based in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The club plays in the French National Division 2. The club was founded in 1946 and then re-founded in 2007. It plays its matches at the Stade Roger Couderc. In addition to the open age team, the club also has a women's team and a thriving junior section.
The Baroudeurs de Pia XIII, later known as the Pia Donkeys, are a French Rugby league team based in Pia, Pyrénées-Orientales in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The Baroudeurs play in the Elite Two Championship during their existence they were the reserve team of the Elite One Championship team SM Pia XIII, until that team ceased competing in Elite One and the reserve Baroudeurs were absorbed under the SM banner. Home games are played at the Stade Daniel-Ambert
Union Sportive Ferrals XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Ferrals-les-Corbières, Aude in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The play in the National Division 1. They play their home games at the Stade de la Fontaine.
Le Soler XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Le Soler, Pyrénées Orientales in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. Founded in 1955 and refounded in 2008 the club plays in the Languedoc-Roussillon League in the French National Division 2. Home matches are played at the Stade Municipal Le Soler
Sporting Union Cavaillonnais XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Cavaillon, Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The club plays in the French National Division 1 which is the French rugby league's 3rd tier. Founded in 1938, their home games are played at the Stade Pagnetti.
Racing Club Lescure-Arthès XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Lescure-d'Albigeois, Tarn in the Midi-Pyrénées region. The club plays in the French Elite Two Championship. Founded in 1964 as a youth side, their home ground is the Stade Jean Vidal.
Sporting Olympique Avignon also known as Avignon XIII or SO Avignon are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Avignon in the south of France. They currently play in the Elite One Championship. The club was formed in 1916 and they enjoyed their best spell during the 1950s when they lifted the Lord Derby Cup twice and reached two other finals as well as being runners up in the French rugby league championship. The club plays its home matches at the Parc des Sports (Avignon). The current head coach is their former player and ex French international Renaud Guigue
The season 2008/09 was the sixth year under the title Elite One Championship the top level rugby league competition in France. The season ran from October to May. Ten clubs competed for the title playing 20 rounds in the league before the top five progressed to the end of season play-offs. UTC who had finished 5th were not allowed to take their place in the play-offs, their place was given to Carpentras. Pia XIII were beaten by Lézignan Sangliers in a repeat of the previous two finals, and AS Carcassonne knocked out RC Carpentras XIII. At the second stage Lezignan shocked league leaders Limoux Grizzlies 20-18 away to reach the final in the other game AS Carcassonne eliminated Pia. In the elimination final Limoux thrashed AS Carcassonne 41-16. The final was held at Carcassonne's Stade Albert Domec and defending champions Lézignan Sangliers beat Limoux Grizzlies 40-32. At the other end of the table Lyon Villeurbanne XIII were relegated. In the Lord Derby cup final AS Carcassonne beat Limoux Grizzlies to complete a winless campaign for Limoux.
Racing Club Baho XIII who are more commonly known as RC Baho XIII are a semi-professional rugby league team based in the town of Baho in the region of Pyrenees-Orientales in southern France. The club compete in the Elite Two Championship which is the second tier rugby league competition in France. Their home ground is the Stade Municipal de Baho and they are coached by Didier Meynard.
Cahors Lot XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Cahors in the Lot department in the south of France. Founded in 1945 the club plays in the National Division 2 Aquitaine regional league. Home games are played at the Stade Lucien Desprats.
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