Fédérale 1
Encyclopedia
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French
rugby union
club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby
since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group. The championship is contested between 48 teams and named in honor of the famous former FC Lourdes
and French International
player, Jean Prat
.
Preliminary phase
8 teams compete on a double round-robin
basis (14 games) in each of the 6 groups. The top 4 teams of each group move into the play-offs (Trophée Jean-Prat), the bottom 4 move into play-downs.
Second phase
The lowest ranked 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 4 groups of 6. Points scored in the preliminary phase are kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The top 2 teams of each group move on to a sudden death competition (quarter-finals, semi-finals, final), at the end of which an honorary title is awarded. The bottom 3 teams of each group (12 in all) are relegated to Fédérale 2
.
The top 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 6 groups of 4. Points scored in the preliminary phase are not kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The best four top clubs are automatically qualified for the quarter finals. The other two top clubs and the six n°2 clubs have to fight it out in a play-off game to get into the quarter finals. The two finalists are promoted to Pro D2
and play for the championship.
At the end of each season, two teams are promoted to Pro D2
, and 12 relegated into Fédérale 2.
face off against tournament favorites Colomiers
. The first leg ended in a draw 12-12 with no tries scored and every point on the board put up by penalty kicks. In the second leg, Colomiers still couldn't manage to figure out Périgueux, but managed to eventually defeat them 9-6 to move on to the final.
The second semi-final two-leg series would see Aix-en-Provence
against US Bressane
(Bourg-en-Bresse). Mathieu Chabaud opened with a drop goal for US Bressane and it took Aix-en-Provence 20 minutes to respond with a try by Mohamed Berrabah. The match continued with several drops and penalties until US Bressane's Tsepo Kokoali scored a try in the 73rd minute. However, Aix-en-Provence sealed the first leg victory with another penalty kick making the final score 22-17.
US Bressane would show their class in the second leg by overcoming the odds and defeating Aix-en-Provence 14-3, allowing them to seal a place in the final based on the aggregate score. This assures promotion to Pro D2
for the 2008-09 season along with Colomiers.
On June 8, the final of the Jean-Prat took place. Colomiers struck early with a try in the fourth minute by Morgan Saout, but US Bressane's Mathieu Chabaud took 3 points back with a penalty kick 11 minutes later. The score at the end of the first half was 5-3 to Colomiers. Early into the second half, Pascal Vignard scored a try for Colomiers and Frédéric Pujo completed the following conversion that distanced the scoreline even more. With the match seemingly all wrapped up with less than 5 minutes to play, US Bressane caved and allowed 3 tries in that short time span. The final score 36-3 to Colomiers, the champions of Fédérale 1 in 2008.
and La Seyne was, for the majority, a defensive match and offensive struggle. The match ended with a low score as a result of this with a try by Stéphane Arriat for Lourdes in the 59th minute followed by a missed conversion. Then, in the 73rd minute, Sébastien Decarre scored a penalty kick for La Seyne that made the match final score 5-3, giving Lourdes the title.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby
Fédération Française de Rugby
The French Rugby Federation ) is the governing body for rugby union in France. It was formed in 1919 and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body...
since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group. The championship is contested between 48 teams and named in honor of the famous former FC Lourdes
FC Lourdes
FC Lourdais is a French rugby union club currently competing in the French league system. Formed in 1911 they have won the French league eight times and the French cup six times. They play in the Stade Antoine-Beguere and traditionally wear blue and red jerseys. Their most notable former player is...
and French International
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
player, Jean Prat
Jean Prat
Jean Prat was French rugby union footballer. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1959. He played over 50 times for France and is a member of both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame, being inducted in 2001 and 2011 respectively...
.
Format
The format is long-winded and includes many steps.Preliminary phase
8 teams compete on a double round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
basis (14 games) in each of the 6 groups. The top 4 teams of each group move into the play-offs (Trophée Jean-Prat), the bottom 4 move into play-downs.
Second phase
- Play-downs
The lowest ranked 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 4 groups of 6. Points scored in the preliminary phase are kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The top 2 teams of each group move on to a sudden death competition (quarter-finals, semi-finals, final), at the end of which an honorary title is awarded. The bottom 3 teams of each group (12 in all) are relegated to Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2 is a rugby union club championship division in France. It is the fourth division of rugby above Fédérale 3. Teams can earn promotion to Fédérale 1, and subsequently, the professional leagues such as Rugby Pro D2 and the Top 14.-Results:...
.
- Play-offs
The top 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 6 groups of 4. Points scored in the preliminary phase are not kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The best four top clubs are automatically qualified for the quarter finals. The other two top clubs and the six n°2 clubs have to fight it out in a play-off game to get into the quarter finals. The two finalists are promoted to Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
and play for the championship.
At the end of each season, two teams are promoted to Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
, and 12 relegated into Fédérale 2.
Pool 1
- AC Bobigny
- Cergy-Pontoise
- RC OrléansRC OrléansRugby club Orléans is a semi-professional French rugby union team, from Orléans. They currently play at Fédérale 1.-German players:The club has recently provided a number of players for the Germany national rugby union team with Alexander Widiker and the brothers Guillaume and Matthieu Franke...
- SPR PoitiersStade Poitevin RugbyStade Poitevin Rugby is a French semi-professional rugby union team based in Poitiers. They currently play in Fédérale 1, the third division of the French rugby pyramid and the highest outside of the professional leagues....
- RC Rouen
- SNR Saint-Nazaire
- US ToursUS Tours RugbyUS Tours Rugby is a French rugby union club that currently competes in the fourth division of French club rugby, the Fédérale 2 competition. US Tours previously competed in the higher divisions, being relegated from Rugby Pro D2 after the 2001-02 season. The club was formed in 1898 and plays in...
- RC Vannes
Pool 2
- US BressaneUnion Sportive BressaneUnion Sportive Bressane is a general sports club based in the town of Bourg-en-Bresse, France. The club has competed the past few years in France's third division and top amateur league, Fédérale 1. During the 2007-08 season, they managed to reach the final of the Jean-Prat championship and faced a...
- RC Chalon-sur-Saône
- SO Chambéry
- Stade Dijonnais (DijonDijonDijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
) - Stade Domontois (Domont)
- Lons-le-Saunier
- RC Massy
- Villeurbanne
Pool 3
- Aix-en-ProvencePays d'Aix RCPays d'Aix RC is a French rugby union club currently playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional system. They arrived in Pro D2 for the 2009–10 season after earning promotion from the top amateur league, Fédérale 1....
- RC Aubenas
- AS Bédarrides
- US Beaurepaire
- US La Seyne
- Nice RugbyRugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-RacingRugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-Racing is a French rugby union club, currently playing in the third highest division of the French league system, in Fédérale 1. Nice was founded in 1912, as Racing Rugby Club de Nice. Nice has in the past been in the top division of French rugby, and was runner-up...
- Romans
- FCS RumillyFootball Club Sportif RumillyFootball Club Sportif Rumilly is a French rugby union club that currently competes in the third division of French club rugby, the Fédérale 1 competition. Rumilly previously competed in the higher divisions, being relegated from Rugby Pro D2 after the 2001-02 season...
Pool 4
- ES Catalane Argelès-sur-Mer
- Cahors RugbyCahors RugbyCahors Rugby are a French rugby union club. They currently compete in the Fédérale 1 competition, the third division of rugby in France. The club was established in 1908. They play at Stade Lucien Desprats, in Cahors...
- RC Châteaurenard
- SC Graulhet
- AS Lavaur
- SO Millau
- RC Nîmes
- Valance d’Agen
Pool 5
- Colomiers
- AS Fleurance
- Langon
- CA Lannemezan
- SA Mauléon
- FC Oloron (Oloron-Sainte-MarieOloron-Sainte-MarieOloron-Sainte-Marie is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. The town of Oloron-Sante-Marie is positioned at the junction of two rivers and has a population of approximately 12,000. While not spectacular, it is a pleasant looking town, with an ancient quarter,...
) - US Orthez
- Ribérac
Pool 6
- FC Lourdes
- US Marmande
- Miélan-Mirande
- US Morlaàs
- US Nafarroa (Saint-Jean-Pied-de-PortSaint-Jean-Pied-de-PortSaint-Jean-Pied-de-Port is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France close to Ostabat in the Pyrenean foothills....
) - Club Athlétique Périgueux DordogneCA PérigueuxClub Athlétique Périgueux Dordogne is a French rugby union club that currently competes in the second division of French club rugby, the Pro D2 competition. Périgueux played in the higher divisions in the early 2000s but were relegated from Rugby Pro D2 after the 2004-05 season...
- Saint-Jean-de-Luz Olympique
- US TyrosseUnion Sportive Tyrosse Rugby Côte SudUnion Sportive Tyrossaise Rugby Côte Sud is a French rugby union club, currently playing in the third division of the French league system, in Fédérale 1. Tyrosse were relegated from the Rugby Pro D2 competition down to Fédérale 1 after the 2005-06 season...
(Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse)
Jean-Prat results (2007-08)
The first semi-final two-leg series of the Jean-Prat would see PérigueuxCA Périgueux
Club Athlétique Périgueux Dordogne is a French rugby union club that currently competes in the second division of French club rugby, the Pro D2 competition. Périgueux played in the higher divisions in the early 2000s but were relegated from Rugby Pro D2 after the 2004-05 season...
face off against tournament favorites Colomiers
US Colomiers
US Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
. The first leg ended in a draw 12-12 with no tries scored and every point on the board put up by penalty kicks. In the second leg, Colomiers still couldn't manage to figure out Périgueux, but managed to eventually defeat them 9-6 to move on to the final.
The second semi-final two-leg series would see Aix-en-Provence
Pays d'Aix RC
Pays d'Aix RC is a French rugby union club currently playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional system. They arrived in Pro D2 for the 2009–10 season after earning promotion from the top amateur league, Fédérale 1....
against US Bressane
Union Sportive Bressane
Union Sportive Bressane is a general sports club based in the town of Bourg-en-Bresse, France. The club has competed the past few years in France's third division and top amateur league, Fédérale 1. During the 2007-08 season, they managed to reach the final of the Jean-Prat championship and faced a...
(Bourg-en-Bresse). Mathieu Chabaud opened with a drop goal for US Bressane and it took Aix-en-Provence 20 minutes to respond with a try by Mohamed Berrabah. The match continued with several drops and penalties until US Bressane's Tsepo Kokoali scored a try in the 73rd minute. However, Aix-en-Provence sealed the first leg victory with another penalty kick making the final score 22-17.
US Bressane would show their class in the second leg by overcoming the odds and defeating Aix-en-Provence 14-3, allowing them to seal a place in the final based on the aggregate score. This assures promotion to Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
for the 2008-09 season along with Colomiers.
On June 8, the final of the Jean-Prat took place. Colomiers struck early with a try in the fourth minute by Morgan Saout, but US Bressane's Mathieu Chabaud took 3 points back with a penalty kick 11 minutes later. The score at the end of the first half was 5-3 to Colomiers. Early into the second half, Pascal Vignard scored a try for Colomiers and Frédéric Pujo completed the following conversion that distanced the scoreline even more. With the match seemingly all wrapped up with less than 5 minutes to play, US Bressane caved and allowed 3 tries in that short time span. The final score 36-3 to Colomiers, the champions of Fédérale 1 in 2008.
Play-down results (2007-08)
The final between LourdesFC Lourdes
FC Lourdais is a French rugby union club currently competing in the French league system. Formed in 1911 they have won the French league eight times and the French cup six times. They play in the Stade Antoine-Beguere and traditionally wear blue and red jerseys. Their most notable former player is...
and La Seyne was, for the majority, a defensive match and offensive struggle. The match ended with a low score as a result of this with a try by Stéphane Arriat for Lourdes in the 59th minute followed by a missed conversion. Then, in the 73rd minute, Sébastien Decarre scored a penalty kick for La Seyne that made the match final score 5-3, giving Lourdes the title.
Relegated from Fédérale 1 (2007-08)
- Cergy-Pontoise
- Chambéry
- Fleurance
- Graulhet
- Miélan-Mirande
- Millau
- Nafarroa
- Nice Rugby
- Orthez
- Poitiers
- Rumilly
- Villeurbanne
Jean-Prat Past Champions
- 2008-09: LannemezanCA LannemezanCA Lannemezan is a French rugby union club based in Lannemezan in the Hautes-Pyrénées department. It will join the second level of French professional rugby, Pro D2, in the upcoming 2009–10 season after winning the 2009 championship of the top amateur level, Fédérale 1.-History:Although the club...
- 2007-08: ColomiersUS ColomiersUS Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
- 2006-07: Stade AurillacoisStade Aurillacois Cantal AuvergneStade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne is a French rugby union club, which play in Rugby Pro D2, the second division of French rugby. The club currently play at the Stade Jean Alric, which has a capacity of around 10,000. The club was founded in 1904...
- 2005-06: UA Gaillac
- 2004-05: US ColomiersUS ColomiersUS Colomiers is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French rugby pyramid. They had been relegated from Pro D2 after finishing last in the 2006-07 season, but earned promotion from Fédérale 1 at the first opportunity in 2007-08, and survived a...
- 2003-04: Pays d'Aix RCPays d'Aix RCPays d'Aix RC is a French rugby union club currently playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional system. They arrived in Pro D2 for the 2009–10 season after earning promotion from the top amateur league, Fédérale 1....
- 2002-03: USA LimogesUSA LimogesUSA Limoges is a French rugby union club currently competing in Fédérale 1, the top level of the French amateur rugby pyramid and one level below the professional leagues. They finished second-from-bottom in the second professional level, Rugby Pro D2, in both 2007 and 2008...
- 2001-02: Lyon OULyon OULyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
- 2000-01: Oyonnax RugbyOyonnax RugbyUnion sportive Oyonnax Rugby is a French rugby union club from Oyonnax in the Ain département of the région Rhône-Alpes, currently competing in the second level of the French league system . They play at Stade Charles-Mathon...