FC Grenoble
Encyclopedia
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
(capacity 12,000). They wear red and blue.
in Rhône-Alpes
. Ever since they reached the final of the French championship in the early 90s, the club has struggled. They were relegated to the French second division and came back again.
At the end of 2004–05, they were relegated to the French second division, Rugby Pro D2, after the top level was reduced from sixteen to fourteen teams. However, they were relegated even further, to the amateur Fédérale 1
, due to financial problems; an audit of the club’s books revealed debts of €3.64 million as of 30 June 2005. They earned promotion back to the professional ranks at the first opportunity, and played in Pro D2
, in 2006–07; they finished their first season back in ProD2 in fourteenth place (out of sixteen), surviving the drop by one point over Limoges
. Season 2007-2008 ended at seventh rank, close to the play-offs.
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 which, until recently, competed in the top level of the French league system
Ligue Nationale de Rugby
The Top 14 is a rugby union club competition which is played in France. The Top 14 is at the top of the national league system operated by the French National Rugby League, also known by its French initialism of LNR. There is promotion and relegation between the Top 14 and the next level down, the...
. They play at Stade Lesdiguières
Stade Lesdiguières
Stade Lesdiguières is a multi-purpose stadium in Grenoble, France. The stadium holds 12,000. It is the home of the FC Grenoble rugby union club....
(capacity 12,000). They wear red and blue.
History
The club was founded in 1892 following the merger of the main clubs in GrenobleGrenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
in Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
. Ever since they reached the final of the French championship in the early 90s, the club has struggled. They were relegated to the French second division and came back again.
At the end of 2004–05, they were relegated to the French second division, Rugby Pro D2, after the top level was reduced from sixteen to fourteen teams. However, they were relegated even further, to the amateur Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
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...
, due to financial problems; an audit of the club’s books revealed debts of €3.64 million as of 30 June 2005. They earned promotion back to the professional ranks at the first opportunity, and played in 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...
, in 2006–07; they finished their first season back in ProD2 in fourteenth place (out of sixteen), surviving the drop by one point over Limoges
USA Limoges
USA 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...
. Season 2007-2008 ended at seventh rank, close to the play-offs.
Honours
- French premiership:
- Champions: 1954
- Runners-up: 1993
- Challenge Yves du ManoirChallenge 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:...
/Coupe de France:- Champions: 1987
- Runners-up: 1969, 1986, 1990
- Coupe de l'Espérance:
- Champions: 1918
French championship
| Date | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Spectators |
| 23 May 1954 | FC Grenoble | US Cognac US Cognac Union Sportive Cognaçaise is a French rugby union club , based in Cognac in the Charente département . They play at the Parc des Sports , and wear white and red.... |
5-3 | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse 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... |
34,230 |
| 5 June 1993 | Castres Olympique Castres Olympique Castres Olympique is a French rugby union club located in the Midi-Pyrénées city of Castres and currently competing in the top level of the French league system.Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906... |
FC Grenoble | 14-11 | Parc des Princes Parc des Princes The 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... , Paris Paris Paris 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... |
48,000 |
Current squad
- For the 2008-09 season
Famous players
- David AucagneDavid AucagneDavid Aucagne is a retired French rugby union player. Aucagne, who played at fly-half, has been the coach of the French under-20 team since retiring in 2008...
- Olivier BrouzetOlivier BrouzetOlivier Brouzet is a French rugby union footballer. His usual position was at lock. He has played over 70 internationals for France, including being a part of numerous Rugby World Cup squads for France. He has also played for a variety of French and English clubs.Brouzet made his debut for France...
- Vincent ClercVincent ClercVincent Clerc is a French rugby union player who plays on the wing.-Biography:Born in the city of Échirolles, suburb of the south of Grenoble , Clerc first played rugby at FC Grenoble, helping them reach the Top 16 before moving to Toulouse in 2002, where he has been playing ever since...
- Robbie DeansRobbie DeansRobert Maxwell Deans is the current coach of the Wallabies and former All Black. He is the former coach of the Crusaders. He also served as assistant to former All Blacks coach John Mitchell between late 2001 and 2003...
- Julien PuricelliJulien PuricelliJulien Puricelli is a French rugby union player. Puricelli, who is a flanker, plays his club rugby for Bayonne. He made his debut for France against New Zealand on 13 June 2009.-External links:* *...
- Inoke AfeakiInoke AfeakiInoke Afeaki is a Tongan rugby union footballer. His usual position is at lock.-Career:Afeaki has played for the Wellington Lions in the National Provincial Championship, the Hurricanes in the international Super 14 competition, Secom and Ricoh in Japan before joining the Scarlets in Wales. He...
External links
- FC Grenoble - Official site