Avignon
- Leagues Played
- Elite One 168 NRL Auckland Nines 1 National Conference League 1 Ashes Test Series 1
- Links
- Wikipedia
Results
| Elite One | 04/14 13:30 | 18 |
St Gaudens
v
Avignon
|
W | 28-39 | |
| Elite One | 03/30 15:00 | 17 |
Avignon
v
Pia
|
L | 24-26 | |
| Elite One | 03/23 15:00 | 14 |
Avignon
v
Villeneuve
|
W | 28-13 | |
| Elite One | 03/16 18:00 | 16 |
Albi
v
Avignon
|
L | 44-12 | |
| Elite One | 03/02 17:00 | 6 |
Avignon
v
St. Esteve Catalan
|
W | 25-24 | |
| Elite One | 02/24 15:00 | 14 |
Avignon
v
Villeneuve
|
- | PPT. | |
| Elite One | 02/11 14:00 | 13 |
Limouxin
v
Avignon
|
L | 28-16 | |
| Elite One | 02/03 17:00 | 12 |
Avignon
v
Lezignan
|
L | 28-34 | |
| Elite One | 01/21 15:00 | 11 |
Toulouse Elite
v
Avignon
|
W | 10-24 | |
| Elite One | 01/13 15:00 | 10 |
Avignon
v
Carcassonne
|
L | 28-46 | |
| Elite One | 12/09 15:00 | 9 |
Avignon
v
St Gaudens
|
W | 24-14 | |
| Elite One | 12/03 14:30 | 5 |
Villeneuve
v
Avignon
|
W | 14-28 |
Wikipedia - Sporting Olympique Avignon
Sporting Olympique Avignon also known as Avignon XIII or SO Avignon are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Avignon in the south of France. They currently play in the Elite One Championship. The club was formed in 1916 and they enjoyed their best spell during the 1950s when they lifted the Lord Derby Cup twice and reached two other finals as well as being runners up in the French rugby league championship. The club plays its home matches at the Parc des Sports (Avignon). The current head coach is their former player and ex French international Renaud Guigue
History
On March 16, 1916 Sporting Olympique Avignon were formed as a rugby and athletics club by Viscount du Tertre and Marius Bremond who would be the club's first president and vice president respectively. After the war and when Rugby League could be played again in France following the Vichy government's banning of the game, SO Avignon decided to join Rugby League under the leadership of head coach and captain Francois Riviere. It was during the 1950s that the club would have its most successful period, they reached their first French rugby league championship final in 1957 while also lifting the Lord Derby Cup in 1955 and 1956 and being runner up in 1958 and 59, during this time they played in front of crowds of more than 10,000 and were well known for playing local youth players.
Since their boom years the club has experienced both highs and lows. They won the Lord Derby Cup in 1982 and again 1989. The youth team also lifted the cup in 1982 and in 1995 they completed a league and cup double under coaches Gerard Faure and Frederic Bissiere. It was during this time that their main stand at their ground caught fire as the club struggled both on and off the field, but thanks to Bernard Gayraud the club survived. In 1998 following their relegation to the Elite Two Championship they caused a major surprise by once again reaching the Lord Derby Cup final but lost to AS Saint-Estève.
In November 2001 the club's president Jean-René Laval had no option but to put the club into liquidation due to its debts, but the club didn't die and under Roger Secula and Christophe Jouffret Avignon was reformed and were accepted into the National Division 2 Regional League, which is the 4th tier. After 2 seasons they won promotion to the National Division 1 League where they stayed for another 2 seasons before being relegated back to the 4th tier. In 2006 they were promoted back to National Division 1. During 2008 the club spent time at the Parc des Sports while their own ground was being refurbished and artificial turf laid. Since their return to the Elite One Championship the club have reached the semi-finals of the play-offs in 2011 and in 2013 they once again won the Lord Derby Cup beating Limoux Grizzlies 38-37
The team's home ground is the Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié, which has a capacity of 17,518 spectators. The team's colors are blue and white, and their logo features a stylized letter "A" with a rugby ball in the center.
Avignon has a strong tradition of producing talented players, and many of their former players have gone on to play for the French national team. The team has also had success in domestic competitions, winning the French Elite One Championship on several occasions.
The current squad is made up of a mix of experienced players and promising young talent. The team is known for their physicality and aggressive style of play, and they are always a tough opponent for any team they face.
Overall, Avignon is a respected and competitive team in the French rugby league scene, and they continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the sport.