Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée (also known as
RC Narbonne) is a
FrenchThe 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 unionRugby 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 that play in the second-level
Rugby Pro D2Rugby 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...
, after finishing at the bottom of the 2006-07 Top 14 table.
They are based in
NarbonneNarbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
in
Languedoc-RoussillonLanguedoc-Roussillon is one of the 27 regions of France. It comprises five departments, and borders the other French regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Midi-Pyrénées on the one side, and Spain, Andorra and the Mediterranean sea on the other side.-Geography:The region is...
. They were founded in 1907. They play at
Parc des Sports Et de l'AmitiéParc des Sports Et de l'Amitié is a multi-use stadium in Narbonne, France. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of RC Narbonne. The stadium is able to hold 12,000 people and was built in 1979.-References:...
(capacity 12,000). They wear orange and black.
History
RC Narbonne were established in 1907. The club's first appearance in the domestic championship final came in May 1932, where they faced
LyonLyon 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....
in
BordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
. However, Narbonne were not able to capture their first title, as Lyon would go onto win the final 9 points to three. The following season Narbonne again made it to the final of the league, and once again, Lyon were their opponents. Again played in Bordeaux, Lyon were victorious once again, defeating Narbonne 10 points to three. However by 1936 Narbonne were once agagin finalists of the French championship, and on May 10 in
ToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
they defeated
MontferrandAssociation Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
6 points to three, claiming their first ever championship.
In 1967 Narbonne contested the final of the
Challenge Yves du ManoirThe Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
, playing
FC LourdesFC 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...
(the 1966 Challenge Yves du Manoir champions). FC Lourdes held onto their title, defeating Narbonne 9 points to three. However the following season, Narbonne were again finalists, and won their first Challenge Yves du Manoir title, defeating
DaxUnion Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
14 points to six.
The 1970s were another successful era for RC Narbonne. In 1973 Narbonne captured their first Challenge Yves du Manoir title since the 1968 season, defeating Béziers 13 points to six. 1974 was a great season for Narbonne; they successfully defended their Challenge Yves du Manoir title by defeating
CA BriveClub Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
in the final, they were also runners-up in the main French championship, being defeated by their 1973 Challenge Yves du Manoir opponents AS Béziers (16 points to 14). In 1978 Narbonne again won the Challenge Yves du Manoir, being awarded the title after drawing 19-all with AS Béziers due to them scoring more tries. 1979 was a very successful year for Narbonne; they were able to hold onto their Challenge Yves du Manoir title, defeating AS Montferrand 9 points to seven, as well as the Challenge Yves du Manoir, Narbonne won the French championship (for the first time since 1936), defeating
Stade BagnéraisStade Bagnérais is a French rugby union club currently competing at the fourth level of the French league system . They are based in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, a small town of 8,000 inhabitants, in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, at the foot of the Pyrénées.Formed in 1901 they have reached the final of...
10 to nil at
Parc des PrincesThe Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in the final.
Narbonne would also win a number of honours during the 1980s. The club were runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1982, losing to US Dax 19 points to 22 in the final. Narbonne won it again in 1984, defeating
ToulouseStade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
17 points to 13 in the final. In 1985 Narbonne won the Coupe de France, defeating AS Béziers 28 to 27 after extra time. In 1989 Narbonne won the Challenge Yves du Manoir again, defeating
BiarritzBiarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
18 points to 12. The club won it again in 1990, defeating Grenoble 24 to 19 in the final. Narbonne made it three in a row after winning the 1991 Challenge Yves du Manoir, defeating CA Bègles 24 to 19 in the final game. Narbonne came close to winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir four times in a row, but lost to SU Agen 23-18 in the final. In 2001 Narbonne were runners-up in the
European Challenge CupThe European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
, losing to the
HarlequinsThe Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
42 to 33 in the final.
Honours
- French championship:
- Champions: 1936, 1979
- Runners-up: 1932, 1933, 1974
- European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
:
- Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
:
- Champions: 1968, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991
- Runners-up: 1967, 1982, 1992
French championship
| Date |
Winners |
Runners-up |
Score |
Venue |
Spectators |
| 5 May 1932 |
Lyon OU |
RC Narbonne |
9-3 |
Parc Lescure, BordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
|
13,000 |
| 7 May 1933 |
Lyon OU |
RC Narbonne |
10-3 |
Parc Lescure, BordeauxBordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
|
15,000 |
| 10 May 1936 |
RC Narbonne |
AS Montferrand |
6-3 |
Stade des Ponts Jumeaux The Stade des Ponts Jumeaux was a rugby union stadium, inaugurated on 24 November 1907, in the Ponts Jumeaux district of Toulouse, south-western France. The land was purchased by the embryonic Stade Toulousain rugby team – with financial assistance from city notables – then headed by a law...
, ToulouseToulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
|
25,000 |
| 12 May 1974 |
AS Béziers |
RC Narbonne |
16-14 |
Parc des PrincesThe Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
, ParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
|
40,609 |
| 27 May 1979 |
RC Narbonne |
Stade Bagnérais Stade Bagnérais is a French rugby union club currently competing at the fourth level of the French league system . They are based in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, a small town of 8,000 inhabitants, in the Hautes-Pyrénées département, at the foot of the Pyrénées.Formed in 1901 they have reached the final of...
|
10-0 |
Parc des PrincesThe Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
, ParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
|
41,981 |
Challenge Yves du Manoir
| Year |
Winner |
Score |
Runner-up |
| 1967 |
FC LourdesFC 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...
|
9-3 |
RC Narbonne |
| 1968 |
RC Narbonne |
14-6 |
US Dax Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
|
| 1973 |
RC Narbonne |
13-6 |
AS Béziers |
| 1974 |
RC Narbonne |
19-10 |
CA BriveClub Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...
|
| 1978 |
RC Narbonne |
19-19
(more tries scored) |
AS Béziers |
| 1979 |
RC Narbonne |
9-7 |
AS Montferrand |
| 1982 |
US Dax Union Sportive Dacquoise, also known as US Dax, is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second level of the French league system....
|
22-19 |
RC Narbonne |
| 1984 |
RC Narbonne |
17-13 |
Stade ToulousainStade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
|
| 1989 |
RC Narbonne |
18-12 |
Biarritz OlympiqueBiarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
|
| 1990 |
RC Narbonne |
24-19 |
FC Grenoble Football Club de Grenoble Alpes Rugby is a French rugby union club which, until recently, competed in the top level of the French league system. They play at Stade Lesdiguières . They wear red and blue.-History:...
|
| 1991 |
RC Narbonne |
24-19 |
CA Bègles Club Athlétique Bordeaux-Bègles Gironde are a French multisports club, established in 1907, based in Bègles, in the southern suburbs of Bordeaux. Their rugby union section, Union Bordeaux Bègles is their flagship...
|
| 1992 |
SU AgenSporting Union Agen Lot-et-Garonne is a French rugby union club based in Agen in the department of Lot-et-Garonne. They currently play in the top flight of French professional rugby, Top 14; they were most recently promoted after winning the 2010 title in the second-level Pro D2. Agen also...
|
23-18 |
RC Narbonne |
Coupe de France
| Year |
Winner |
Score |
Runner-up |
| 1985 |
RC Narbonne |
28-27 (a.e.t.) |
AS Béziers |
European Challenge Cup
| Year |
Winner |
Score |
Runner-up |
| 2004 |
HarlequinsThe Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
|
27-26 |
RC Narbonne |
Current Squad (09/10)
Notable former players
Gonzalo QuesadaGonzalo Quesada is an Argentine rugby player.-Biography:He was born May 2, 1974 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He won 39 caps playing at Fly-half for the Argentinian rugby union side between 1996 and 2003. He made his test debut at the age of 22 against the United States the 14 September 1996. He won...
René AraouRené Araou was a French rugby union player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was born in Narbonne.In 1924 he won the silver medal as member of the French team.-External links:*...
Julien CandelonJulien Candelon is a professional rugby union winger currently playing for USA Perpignan in the Top 14.Candelon has earned two caps for the France national team, the first one coming on June 18, 2005 against South Africa, and scored two tries. He also played for the sevens national team.-References:...
Didier CodorniouDidier Codorniou is a former French rugby union player and a French politician. He played as a Centre.Codorniou played for RC Narbonne and Stade Toulousain...
Patrick Estève
Jean-Pierre HortolandJean-Pierre Hortoland is a French rugby union player, born in Marseillan, Hérault on 28 May 1947. At 1m 80 and 102 kg , he played left prop for AS Béziers and RC Narbonne and in the French national team against Australia at Colombes on 27 November 1971.Armand Vaquerin replaced him at Béziers...
Christian LabitChristian Labit is a French rugby player. He played for both RC Narbonne and Stade Toulousain and then moved to English club Northampton Saints...
Jo MasoJo Maso is a former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played centre for Narbonne, Toulonnais, Perpignan and France, gaining 25 caps. His alternative position was fly-half...
Jean-Baptiste PouxJean-Baptiste Poux is a French rugby union footballer who plays as a prop, and is capable of playing on either side of the scrum. He currently plays for Toulouse in the Top 14 rugby competition...
Francois Sangalli
Henri SanzHenri Sanz was a French rugby union player. He played as a scrum-half.Sanz first played for Electrogaz Toulouse, then in SC Graulhet, moving afterwards to RC Narbonne, where he would spend most of his career. He reached the post of captain and won three titles of the Cup of France, in 1988/89,...
Claude SpangheroClaude Spanghero is a former French rugby union footballer.He was a part of the French side which won the Five Nations in 1973. He played for France over 22 times and 7 with his Brother Walter Spanghero. He played at number Lock...
Walter SpangheroWalter Spanghero is a former French rugby union footballer. He was a part of the French national team which won the 1968 Grand Slam in the Five Nations. He was also a part of the French side which won the Five Nations in 1967 and 1973. He played for France over 50 times. He played at number 8,...
Franck TournaireFranck Tournaire is a former French international professional rugby union player now playing amateur rugby for US Carcassonne....
Federico PucciarielloFederico Pucciariello was an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer. He played at both tighthead and loosehead prop, and played for Munster Rugby up to the end of the 2008-2009 season...
Gareth LlewellynGareth Llewellyn was born 27 February 1969 in St. David's Hospital Cardiff whilst his father was serving in Cardiff with the Army, is a Welsh rugby union player who gained a record 92 caps for Wales as a lock. His record for Wales caps has since been surpassed by Gareth Thomas, Colin Charvis,...
Willem De WaalWillem de Waal is a South African rugby union footballer who is currently playing for Benetton Treviso in the RaboDirect Pro12 competition. He plays in the position of fly-half...
Ignacio CorletoIgnacio Corleto is an Argentine Rugby Union footballer who plays Fullback position. He began his rugby career in the local Club Universitario de Buenos Aires . After the 1999 Rugby World Cup he migrated into professional rugby and signed with French club Narbonne...
External links
Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée - Official site