RC Narbonne

Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée

Full name	Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée
Founded	1907 (1907)
Location	Narbonne, France
Ground(s)	Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié (Capacity: 12,000)
President	Bernard Archilla
Coach(es)	Christian Labit, Steve Kefu and Sébastien Buada
League(s)	Fédérale 1
2017–18	Rugby Pro D2, 16th (relegated)
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.rcnm.com

Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée (also known as RCNM) is a French rugby union club that play in the second-level Rugby Pro D2.

They are based in Narbonne in Occitania. They were founded in 1907. They play at Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié (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 Lyon in Bordeaux. However, Narbonne were not able to capture their first title, as Lyon would go on to 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 Toulouse they defeated Montferrand 6 points to three, claiming their first ever championship.

In 1967 Narbonne contested the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir, playing FC Lourdes (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 Dax 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 Brive 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 on to 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 Bagnérais 10 to nil at Parc des Princes 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 Toulouse 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 Biarritz 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 Cup, losing to the Harlequins 42 to 33 in the final.

The Club has been owned by an Australian Consortium since 2012. The consortium includes Bob Dwyer, Rocky Elsom, Pete O'Connell and Chris Bayman. RCNM made the finals of ProD2 in 2013/14 season losing narrowly to SG Agen. This was achieved with the smallest player budget in the League^[1] and the innovation in recruitment, preparation and training enabled the club to perform well above expectation.

Honours

• French championship:
  • Champions: 1936, 1979
  • Runners-up: 1932, 1933, 1974
• European Challenge Cup:
  • Runners-up: 2001
• Challenge Yves du Manoir:
  • Champions: 1968, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1990, 1991
  • Runners-up: 1967, 1982, 1992
• Coupe de France:
  • Champions: 1985

Finals results

Current standings

The current table for the 2017–18 Rugby Pro D2 is:^[2]

Current squad

The Narbonne squad for 2017–18 season is:^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union Mehdi Boundjema Hooker France Cyril Deligny Hooker France Clément Estériola Hooker France Dale Chadwick Prop South Africa Nicolas Chocou Prop France Tapu Falatea Prop Tonga Jean-Luc Innocente Prop France Salesi Ma'afu Prop Australia Hugo Pirlet Prop France Neemia Tialata Prop New Zealand Callam Falconer Prop Australia Siaosi Mahoni Lock United States Romain Manchia Lock France Maselino Paulino Lock Samoa Nic Strauss Lock South Africa Pelu Taele Lock Samoa Paul Belzons Flanker France Benjamin Collet Flanker France Lucas Guillaume Flanker Spain David Tameilau Flanker United States Thomas Toevalu Flanker France Beka Bitsadze Number 8 Georgia Yassine Jarmouni Number 8 France

Player Position Union Arthur Aziza Scrum-half France Pierrick Nova Scrum-half France Sébastien Rouet Scrum-half Spain Stephen Brett Fly-half New Zealand Pierre-Alexandre Dut Fly-half France Thomas Fournil Fly-half France Paolo Pescetto Fly-half Italy Clint Eadie Centre Australia Sébastien Giorgis Centre France Brieuc Plessis Couillard Centre France Leone Ravuetaki Centre Fiji Saia Fekitoa Wing Tonga Hosea Gear Wing New Zealand Sakiusa Navakadretia Wing Fiji Segundo Tuculet Wing Argentina Guillaume Cazes Fullback France Léo Griffoul Fullback France Orlando Stott Fullback France

Notable former players

See also

• List of rugby union clubs in France
• Rugby union in France

References

External links

• (in French) Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée Official website