Villefranche XIII Aveyron

Last updated

Villefranche XIII Aveyron
Logo villefranche.png
Club information
Full nameVillefranche XIII Aveyron
Nickname(s)Les Loups
Founded1950;73 years ago (1950)
Website Website
Current details
Ground(s)
Competition Elite Two Championship
Uniforms
Kit left arm blueborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body blueshoulders.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm blueborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Home colours

Villefranche XIII Aveyron is 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 currently the Stade Henri Lagarde.

Contents

History

The club was founded in 1950 under the name Villefranche XIII, after the towns rugby union club Stade Villefranchois switched codes after several disagreements with the French rugby union authorities. On 8 January 1950 the club's president Andre Rotambourg applied to join the French rugby league and the club was accepted and began the following season in the amateur 2nd Division. In 1953 they lost the 2nd Division final 10-13 against Arcachon. Four years later they reached their only Coupe Falcou final but lost to Facture. It would take until 1962 for the club to be crowned 2nd Division champions, defeating La Reole XIII 21-3 to gain promotion to the National League 1 now the 2nd tier Elite Two. They remained in the 2nd tier until 1976 when they were relegated. They immediately won promotion back, but their stay was short-lived just the one season again.

In 1982 the club signed their first overseas players when they brought over three Australians from North Sydney Bears, Michael Glascock, Richard Lewis and Craig Ebert.

In 1990 Le Barcares XIII defeated Villefranche 12-6 in the Elite Two Championship final to deny the club promotion. The feat was achieved in 1992 when they beat Limoux Grizzlies 12-6 and won promotion. They were relegated after only twelve months and had to wait six years to return, courtesy of a 38-18 win over Saint-Cyprien in 1999. The club also changed their name to Villefranche XIII Aveyron to encompass the local area of Aveyron and a new nickname was added Les Loups (The Wolves). Financial problems off the pitch almost led to the club's demise and in 2004, they then merged with Cahors XIII to form Union Villefranche-Cahors XIII. In 2008 the club cancelled its merger with "Cahors XIII" and reverted to the club name Villefranche XIII Aveyron. By this time the club was back in the 3rd tier but in 2009 they won promotion back to the 2nd tier after beating Realmont XIII 24-20 in the National Division 1 final.

Season 2016/17 saw them finish 2nd in the table but they beat favourites and table toppers RC Baho XIII in the final 13-10 to win their first silverware for 8 years. The club runs junior and women's teams. [1]

Crest

The Villefranche XIII Aveyron club's crest of the wolf was most likely selected because of the Cévennes National Park a local tourist attraction in Aveyron where wolves are sometimes seen, although numbers have decreased greatly over the years. There is also a local folklore story about a Beast of Gevaudan that would reside in and around the local areas, with many tales describing the beast as a large wolf or wolf-like creature.

Stadium

The Stade Henri Lagarde is a rugby stadium in Villefranche with one main stand with a cinder track and perimeter fence around the pitch. [2]

Current squad

Season 2019-20 [3]

Villefranche Rugby league squad

Fullbacks

  • Romain Telaude

Wingers

  • Robin Bessou
  • Shann Brugel
  • Paul Portal

Centres

  • Victor Cerezo
  • Reinhold Kamilo
  • Remi Lafon
  • Erwan Saviard
  • Loic Taurin

Halves

  • Loyc Amans
  • Yann Rodriguez
  • Anthony Senezergues

Props

  • Martin Gohon
  • Maximilien Hakomani
  • Christopher Lafon
  • Unaloto Lamelangi
  • Alex Magna
  • Julien Yeche

Hookers

  • Gabriel Bouscayrol
  • Bastien Dintilhac

Back Rowers

  • Jerome Fabre
  • Emilien Gaillac
  • Phil Nati
  • Alexandre Roux
  • Milos Calic

Others

  • Joris Hugounet
  • Manuel Oliveira

Internationals

Notable players

Honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toulouse Olympique</span> French professional rugby league club

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Gaudens Bears</span> French professional rugby league club

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RC Carpentras XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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 2006/07 season was the fourth year of the Elite One Championship, the top-level rugby league French Championship. The season commenced on 6 October 2006. 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 18 April 2007, before the top four Pia XIII, Toulouse Olympique, Lézignan Sangliers and Saint-Gaudens Bears progressed to the play-offs. Pia XIII beat Lézignan Sangliers in the Grand Final 20-16 which was played at Colomiers. That win completed a double for Pia XIII as they had already lifted the Lord Derby Cup beating AS Carcassonne 30-14. Lyon Villeurbanne XIII finished bottom, finishing with 23 points but it was Villefranche XIII Aveyron who'd finished 9th who were relegated to the Elite Two Championship, replaced by RC Albi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montpellier Red Devils</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Realmont XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

Realmont XIII are a French rugby league club based in Realmont in the Tarn region of the Midi-Pyrénées. The club plays in the French National Division 1, which is the 3rd tier. The club plays home games at the Stade Claude Andre

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonneins XIII</span> French rugby league club

Tonneins XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Tonneins, Lot-et-Garonne, in the Aquitaine region. They play in the French National Division 1. The club plays its home games at the Stade Jean-Bernege

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Ferrals XIII</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ille-sur-Têt XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

Ille-sur-Têt XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Ille-sur-Têt, Pyrénées Orientales in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The club plays in the French Elite Two Championship. Founded in 1945 they play their home games at the Stade Jean Galia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Soler XIII</span> French rugby league club

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SU Cavaillon XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Réole XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

La Réole XIII are a semi-professional Rugby league club based in La Réole, Gironde in the Aquitaine region in the south of France. They were founded in 1938. From 2016-17 they will play in the National Division 2 Aquitaine Regional Competition. The club plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal La Reole and are currently coached by New Zealander Scott Hurrell

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RC Lescure-Arthes XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AS Corbeil-Essonnes XIII Spartans</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

AS Corbeil Essonne XIII Spartiates are a French Rugby league club based in Essonnes, Paris in the Île-de-France region. The club plays in the Île-de-France regional league of the French National Division 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporting Olympique Avignon</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Entraigues XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

Union Sportive Entraigues XIII are a rugby league team based in Entraigues-sur-la-Sorgue in the region of Vaucluse in the south-west of France. They play in the Elite Two Championship the second tier of rugby league in France. Their home ground is the Stade Georges Mauro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RC Baho XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Villeghailhenc-Aragon XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Villegailhenc, Aude in Languedoc-Rousillon in southern France. They currently play in the second tier competition the Elite Two Championship. Their home stadium is the Stade Jerome Rieux.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cahors Lot XIII</span> French semi-professional rugby league club

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.

References

  1. "Bienvenue sur le site des Loups". Villefranche13.com. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  2. "Bienvenue sur le site des Loups". Villefranche13.com. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  3. "Villefranche Rugby league squad". Treize Mondial.