Rugby Club CERN
Encyclopedia
Rugby Club CERN - Meyrin - St Genis (RC CMSG) are a semi-professional
Swiss rugby union
club situated on the French Swiss border, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north west of Geneva
. The club plays its rugby in the Swiss first division where it is one of the most successful teams in the leagues history, behind Hermance RRC.
(European Organization for Nuclear Research), which is the world's largest particle physics laboratory, in around 1960 playing against other companies and organizations in the Geneva area. In 1970 RC CERN organised a memorial competition Challenge Laurent Membrez in honor of Laurent Membrez the founder of Albaladejo Rugby Club. This led to the creation of the Swiss Rugby Federation
in 1972 with the then president of RC CERN, André Cordaillat, becoming the federations first president. In 1984 the club moved to its present ground just across the border in St Genis
, France
, being officially renamed to Rugby Club CERN - St Genis it was still referred to as RC CERN. Then in 2003 the club merged with the successful Ecole de rugby Meyrin (Meyrin Rugby School), creating the present Rugby Club CERN - Meyrin - St Genis with two stadiums, one in France and one in Switzerland. In 2005 the Wildcats, RC CMSG's women's rugby team
, were created adding to the growth of women's rugby in Switzerland.
has been scarce. After the creation of the Swiss Federation the club enjoyed considerable success, winning both the Swiss Championship and Swiss Cup repeatedly. In the early 90s
the fortunes of the club started to change and the successes became less frequent, with the club eventually being relegated to the second division in 1994. The club regained promotion a couple of years later, but the club were only to remain in the first division for a further two years. After a dispute between players, coaches and management, the president removed the club from all competitions. In the autumn of 2000 a new management took control of the club, bringing in Ex Ireland A
, Northampton
and Gloucester second row, John Etheridge, in as coach. The club then won the third and second divisions in consecutive years, but couldn't stay in the first division, and after the second relegation from the first division, Etheridge left the club. In 2008 RC CMSG appointed Claude Ezoua as head coach
, who notably took underdogs
, the Ivory Coast Rugby Team
to the 1995 Rugby World Cup
. The club then achieved promotion back to the first division in the 2008-2009 season losing only one game in the whole season, with the club managing to stay in the first division during the 2009-2010 season for the first time in 15 years.
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
Swiss 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 situated on the French Swiss border, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north west of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. The club plays its rugby in the Swiss first division where it is one of the most successful teams in the leagues history, behind Hermance RRC.
Club history
RC CMSG was formed as Rugby Club du CERN (Rugby Club of CERN) in 1965, making it the oldest club currently playing in the Switzerland. Though the earliest recorded match in Switzerland was in 1869 and if they were still in existence, Lausanne RFC, could have claimed to be as old as Blackheath. The club was originally formed by staff of CERNCERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
(European Organization for Nuclear Research), which is the world's largest particle physics laboratory, in around 1960 playing against other companies and organizations in the Geneva area. In 1970 RC CERN organised a memorial competition Challenge Laurent Membrez in honor of Laurent Membrez the founder of Albaladejo Rugby Club. This led to the creation of the Swiss Rugby Federation
Swiss Rugby Union
The Swiss Rugby Federation ) is the governing body for rugby union in Switzerland.-External links: - Official Site...
in 1972 with the then president of RC CERN, André Cordaillat, becoming the federations first president. In 1984 the club moved to its present ground just across the border in St Genis
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Saint-Genis-Pouilly is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It is located in the Pays de Gex, at the foot of the Jura. Bordering the Swiss frontier, it is part of the cross-border area of Geneva....
, France
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...
, being officially renamed to Rugby Club CERN - St Genis it was still referred to as RC CERN. Then in 2003 the club merged with the successful Ecole de rugby Meyrin (Meyrin Rugby School), creating the present Rugby Club CERN - Meyrin - St Genis with two stadiums, one in France and one in Switzerland. In 2005 the Wildcats, RC CMSG's women's rugby team
Women's rugby union
Women's rugby union is a sport identical to the men's game with the same rules, same sized pitch, and same equipment. However, it has a history which is significantly different, due to various social pressures, and the self-image of rugby union in general...
, were created adding to the growth of women's rugby in Switzerland.
Playing History
RC CMSG have had a very successful past, though the last few years have not seen similar successes and silverwareSilverware (sport)
Silverware is a sporting term used to describe trophies awarded to winning players or teams.In English football, silverware is used to describe one of the cup trophies or the championship trophies awarded for winning one of the leagues...
has been scarce. After the creation of the Swiss Federation the club enjoyed considerable success, winning both the Swiss Championship and Swiss Cup repeatedly. In the early 90s
90s
-Significant people:* Titus Flavius Domitianus, Roman Emperor * Nerva, Roman Emperor...
the fortunes of the club started to change and the successes became less frequent, with the club eventually being relegated to the second division in 1994. The club regained promotion a couple of years later, but the club were only to remain in the first division for a further two years. After a dispute between players, coaches and management, the president removed the club from all competitions. In the autumn of 2000 a new management took control of the club, bringing in Ex Ireland A
Ireland national rugby union team
The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
, Northampton
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
and Gloucester second row, John Etheridge, in as coach. The club then won the third and second divisions in consecutive years, but couldn't stay in the first division, and after the second relegation from the first division, Etheridge left the club. In 2008 RC CMSG appointed Claude Ezoua as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, who notably took underdogs
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
, the Ivory Coast Rugby Team
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire
Rugby union in Côte d'Ivoire, also known as "the Ivory Coast", is essentially amateur, with some degree of semi-professionalization in its top flight league and the national rugby union team....
to the 1995 Rugby World Cup
1995 Rugby World Cup
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was the third Rugby World Cup. It was hosted and won by South Africa, and was the first Rugby World Cup in which every match was held in one country....
. The club then achieved promotion back to the first division in the 2008-2009 season losing only one game in the whole season, with the club managing to stay in the first division during the 2009-2010 season for the first time in 15 years.
Club honours
| Competitions | Years |
|---|---|
| Swiss Champions (NLA) | 1974, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991 |
| Swiss Cup | 1973, 1974, 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 |
| Federation Cup | 1975, 1991 |
| Second Division Champions (NLB) | 1998, 2002, 2009 |
| Third Division Champions (NLC) | 2001 |
Current 1st team Squad
Presidents
| 1965 – 1972 | André Cordaillat |
| 1972 – 1975 | Michael Gamble |
| 1976 – 1991 | Jacques Morand |
| 1992 - 1993 | Pascal Mesenge |
| 1994 - 1995 | Neil Calder |
| 1996 - 1998 | Henri Masseboeuf |
| 1999 - 2000 | Roger Girardot |
| 2001 - 2003 | Ray Veness |
| 2004 | Matteo Mazzanti |
| 2005 - | Peter MacAvock |
Coaches
| 1965 – 1999 | ? | |
| 2000 - 2007 | John Etheridge | |
| 2007 - 2008 | Ali Day | Damian Moore |
| 2008 - 2010 | Claude Ezoua | Ali Day |
| 2010 - 2011 | Ali Day | Gianni Di Martino |
| 2011 - | Sebastien Frunza |