SC Albi
Encyclopedia
Sporting Club Albigeois is a professional French
rugby union
club playing the second-level Rugby Pro D2
. During the past years it went back and forth between Top 14, the highest level of the French league system and the second-level Rugby Pro D2
. Their last time in the Top 14 was for 2009–10 after winning the 2008–09 promotion playoffs. The previous one began in 2006 and came to an end after the 2007–08 season due to financial issues. Founded in 1907, the club plays at the Stadium municipal d'Albi (capacity 12,000). They wear black and yellow. They are based in Albi in Midi-Pyrénées
.
and running
were practiced. Their first title came in 1926 when they beat Stade Toulousain
in the final of the highly competitive championnat des Pyrénées (Pyrénées league).
In 1940, the Vichy regime forced towns with a population below 50,000 to merge their sports clubs in single entities. (UA Gaillac
is another rugby union example). Vichy also targeted the professional rugby league
and Albi was forced to bring together the two local clubs, S.C. Albi and R.C. Albi XIII under the name Albi Olympique.
In 1945, each club went its way and recovered its previous name. In 1949, SC Albi reached the First Division. In 1955, it qualified for the playoffs, managing to oust the prestigious Racing Club de France
in the first round, before going down to Romans in the round of 16.
Until the 1980s, Albi went through regular ups-and-downs between the first and second divisions (Div 1 1961-1970, 1973–75, 1977–79, Div 2, 1957–1959, 1970–73, 1975–77, 1979–85). Their only notable performance was another playoff win against Toulouse
in 1974. Albi remained in the second or third divisions until 2000.
The millennium was very favourable for Albi. The club reached three consecutive third division finals, all lost, in 2000, 2001 et 2002, to FC Oloron Sainte-Marie, Oyonnax
and Tours. However, the professional Pro D2 offered two promotion spots in 2002 and Albi was back in the second division.
It took them four more years to take the last step. After finishing second to US Montauban
in the 2006 regular season, they went on to beat AS Béziers and US Dax
in the promotion playoffs and secure the final spot in the élite league Top 14. They remained in Top 14 until the 2007-08 season. Although they finished 12th that season, which would normally have kept them in the top flight, they were forcibly relegated to Pro D2 due to financial issues.
The following season, they finished third on the regular-season table, qualifying for the promotion playoffs. Their home playoff semifinal against La Rochelle
ended 12–12 in regulation. Each team slotted a penalty in extra time, which ended 15–15. Under French rules, the first tiebreaker in such a situation is fewest red cards. Since neither side had a player sent off, the next tiebreaker is number of tries, followed by number of penalties scored. Albi went through because they had kicked 5 penalties to La Rochelle's 4 (and one drop goal). They defeated Oyonnax
14–12 in the playoff final on 31 May 2009 in Montpellier
to secure their place in the Top 14 2009-2010 season.
By April 2010 the club had already been relegated from the Top 14 after recording only 3 wins all season.
French president Georges Pompidou
accepted to be honorary chairman of the club in 1969 and paid his fees regularly until he died in 1974. http://sporting.club.albi.free.fr/archives/historique/livredor/hommes/lettrepompi.htm.
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 playing the second-level Rugby 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...
. During the past years it went back and forth between Top 14, the highest level of the French league system and the second-level Rugby 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...
. Their last time in the Top 14 was for 2009–10 after winning the 2008–09 promotion playoffs. The previous one began in 2006 and came to an end after the 2007–08 season due to financial issues. Founded in 1907, the club plays at the Stadium municipal d'Albi (capacity 12,000). They wear black and yellow. They are based in Albi in Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées
Midi-Pyrénées is the largest region of metropolitan France by area, larger than the Netherlands or Denmark.Midi-Pyrénées has no historical or geographical unity...
.
History
Sporting Club Albigeois was founded in December 1906 as a sportsclub where, in addition to rugby, tennisTennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and running
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
were practiced. Their first title came in 1926 when they beat Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain
Stade 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...
in the final of the highly competitive championnat des Pyrénées (Pyrénées league).
In 1940, the Vichy regime forced towns with a population below 50,000 to merge their sports clubs in single entities. (UA Gaillac
UA Gaillac
Union Athlétique Gaillac is a French rugby union club currently competing in the Fédérale 3 league, the third level of the French amateur league system, after having been forcibly relegated from the second level of the French professional league due to serious financial problems...
is another rugby union example). Vichy also targeted the professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and Albi was forced to bring together the two local clubs, S.C. Albi and R.C. Albi XIII under the name Albi Olympique.
In 1945, each club went its way and recovered its previous name. In 1949, SC Albi reached the First Division. In 1955, it qualified for the playoffs, managing to oust the prestigious Racing Club de France
Racing Metro 92 Paris
Racing Métro 92 is a French rugby union club based in suburban Paris that was formed in 2001 with the collaboration of the Racing Club de France and US Métro. "92" is the number of Hauts-de-Seine, the département of Île-de-France, bordering Paris to the west, where they play, and whose council...
in the first round, before going down to Romans in the round of 16.
Until the 1980s, Albi went through regular ups-and-downs between the first and second divisions (Div 1 1961-1970, 1973–75, 1977–79, Div 2, 1957–1959, 1970–73, 1975–77, 1979–85). Their only notable performance was another playoff win against Toulouse
Stade Toulousain
Stade 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...
in 1974. Albi remained in the second or third divisions until 2000.
The millennium was very favourable for Albi. The club reached three consecutive third division finals, all lost, in 2000, 2001 et 2002, to FC Oloron Sainte-Marie, Oyonnax
Oyonnax Rugby
Union 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...
and Tours. However, the professional Pro D2 offered two promotion spots in 2002 and Albi was back in the second division.
It took them four more years to take the last step. After finishing second to US Montauban
US Montauban
US Montauban were a French rugby union club, which competed in the Top 14 competition between 2007 and 2010, after being promoted from Rugby Pro D2 for the 2006-07 season...
in the 2006 regular season, they went on to beat AS Béziers and US Dax
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....
in the promotion playoffs and secure the final spot in the élite league Top 14. They remained in Top 14 until the 2007-08 season. Although they finished 12th that season, which would normally have kept them in the top flight, they were forcibly relegated to Pro D2 due to financial issues.
The following season, they finished third on the regular-season table, qualifying for the promotion playoffs. Their home playoff semifinal against La Rochelle
Atlantique Stade Rochelais
Stade Rochelais is a French rugby union club who compete in the Pro D2. They are often known simply as La Rochelle.They were founded in 1898 and play at Stade Marcel-Deflandre . They wear yellow and black...
ended 12–12 in regulation. Each team slotted a penalty in extra time, which ended 15–15. Under French rules, the first tiebreaker in such a situation is fewest red cards. Since neither side had a player sent off, the next tiebreaker is number of tries, followed by number of penalties scored. Albi went through because they had kicked 5 penalties to La Rochelle's 4 (and one drop goal). They defeated Oyonnax
Oyonnax Rugby
Union 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...
14–12 in the playoff final on 31 May 2009 in Montpellier
Stade Yves-du-Manoir (Montpellier)
Stade Yves-du-Manoir is a multi-use stadium in Montpellier, France. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Montpellier Hérault RC. The stadium is able to hold 14,700 spectators . Rugby League side Catalans Dragons used the venue on 5th June 2011 with their...
to secure their place in the Top 14 2009-2010 season.
By April 2010 the club had already been relegated from the Top 14 after recording only 3 wins all season.
Honours
- French league, Division 1: (predecessor to today's Top 14)
- Round of 16 : 1955, 1974
- Rugby Pro D2:
- Promotion playoff winners: 2006, 2009
- French League, Division 1, B Group: (second division; predecessor to today's Pro D2)
- semi-final: 1980, 1986
- French league, Nationale 1: (Div 3, highest amateur level)
- Runner-up: 2000
- French league, Promotion Nationale: (Div 3, highest amateur level)
- Runner-up: 2001
- French league, Fédérale 1: (Div 3, highest amateur level)
- Runner-up: 2002
- Championnat des Pyrénées:
- Winner 1926
Current squad
Notable former players
Robert Basauri René Bousquet. 9 caps. One of the 15 Frenchmen who defeated England for the first time in 1927. Pierre Danos Charles-Antoine Gonnet. 16 cap. Also beat the English in 1927. Bernard Momméjat. 9 caps with SCA.French president Georges Pompidou
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
accepted to be honorary chairman of the club in 1969 and paid his fees regularly until he died in 1974. http://sporting.club.albi.free.fr/archives/historique/livredor/hommes/lettrepompi.htm.