FC Grenoble Rugby

FC Grenoble Rugby
Full name	Football Club de Grenoble Rugby
Nickname(s)	The foreign Legion (1954) ; The Mammoths (1991-1994) ; The Pacific Connection (1999)
Founded	1892; 132 years ago
Location	Grenoble, France
Ground(s)	Stade des Alpes (Capacity: 20,068)
President	Patrick Goffi
Coach(es)	Aubin Hueber
League(s)	Pro D2
2023–24	4th
Team kit	2nd kit
Official website
	fcgrugby.com

The Football Club de Grenoble Rugby (FCG) is a French rugby union club based in Grenoble and founded in 1892.

FCG was champion of France in 1954 and runner-up in 1993 during a controversial final, being deprived of the title of champion of France following a refereeing error.^[1]

The club also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1987 and was finalist in 1969, 1986 and 1990.

FC Grenoble played in the Top 14, the top level of the French league system, for the 2019–2020 season, but were relegated to Pro D2 at the season end. Grenoble have played home matches at the Stade des Alpes (capacity 20,068) since 2014–2015. The club's colors are red and blue. The FCG is currently chaired by Patrick Goffi. The first team is supervised by several specialists: Aubin Hueber as head coach, Nicolas Nadau senior coach, Patrick Pézery forwards coach and Tom Palmer defence coach.

History

The club was founded in 1892 following the merger of the main clubs in Grenoble in Rhône-Alpes.

Runners-up French Championship 1918

After becoming champions of the Alps in 1912, FCG reached the final of the Coupe de l'Espérance in 1918, which replaced the old championship of France during the First World War. Since then Grenoble have regularly featured in the finals. Grenoble contributed notable players to the original French National Team, among them Edmond Besset and Felix Lasserre and Edmond Vellat. In 1931, Grenoble was one of 14 clubs who left the French Rugby Federation to create their own organization, UFRA.

French Champion 1954

In 1954, the first team, then coached by Roger Bouvarel, wrote the most beautiful page in the history of the club. The team was nicknamed by the press the foreign Legion. FC Grenoble won his first Bouclier de Brennus and became champion of France after a 5–3 victory against the U.S. Cognac.

Champions in 1954 :

1. René Martin 2. Innocent Bionda 3. René Duhau
4. Paul Rein 5. Duilio Parolai
6. Sergio Lanfranchi 8. Eugène Smogor 7. Henri Coquet
9. Jean Liénard 10. Roger Baqué
11. Michel Pliassoff 12. Guy Belletante (c) 13. Georges Echevet 14. André Morel
15. Pierre Claret

Runners-up European Championship 1963

With Jean Liénard became coach, Grenoble played the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup FIRA in 1963.

Runners-up of the Challenge Yves du Manoir 1969

In 1969, Grenoble bows in the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir against the US Dax on the score of 24–12.

Runners-up of the Challenge Yves du Manoir 1986

In 1986, Grenoble bows in the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir against the AS Montferrand on the score of 22–15.

Winner of the Challenge Yves du Manoir 1987

In 1987, Grenoble won the Challenge Yves du Manoir against the SU Agen on the score of 26–7. This is the second major trophy for the club.

The winners of the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1987 :

1. Bernard Vacchino 2. Éric Ferruit 3. Jean-Marc Romand
4. Willy Pepelnjak (c) 5. Hervé Chaffardon
6. Gilbert Brunat 8. Stéphane Géraci 7. Christophe Monteil
9. Dominique Mazille 10. Pierre Mathias
11. Philippe Meunier and Thierry Picard 12. Alain Gély 13. Patrick Mesny 14. Richard Zago
15. Gilles Claret

Runners-up of the Challenge Yves du Manoir 1990

In 1990, Grenoble bows in the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir against the RC Narbonne on the score of 24–19.

A second French championship Title denied following a refereeing error 1993

The arrival of Jacques Fouroux in control of the team for the 1992-93 season associated with Michel Ringeval marks the beginning of a new era called the Mammoths of Grenoble.^[2] Despite overpowering pack Grenoble tilts on the score of 14–11.^[3] A try of Olivier Brouzet is denied to Grenoble^[4] and the decisive try by Gary Whetton was awarded by the referee, Daniel Salles, when in fact the defender Franck Hueber from Grenoble touched down the ball first in his try zone. This error gave the title to Castres.^[5] Salles admitted the error 13 years later^[6] .^[7] .^[8] Fouroux conflict with the Federation and who was already suspicious before the match of the referee^[9] cry out conspiracy.^[10]

Players Championship controversial Final in 1993 :

1. Philippe Tapié 2. Éric Ferruit 3. Franck Capdeville
4. Olivier Merle 5. Olivier Brouzet
6. Grzegorz Kacała 8. Džoni Mandić 7. Hervé Chaffardon (c)
9. Dominique Mazille and Franck Hueber 10. Patrick Goirand
11. Philippe Meunier 12. Frédéric Vélo 13. Willy Taofifénua 14. Brice Bardou
15. Cyril Savy

Since then the club has struggled.

First participation in the Heineken Cup 2000

FC Grenoble play the 1999–2000 Heineken Cup in Pool 6. FCG is the only team to beat Nothampton the future winner of the event.

Team	P	W	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Northampton	6	5	1	19	7	12	184	87	97	10
FC Grenoble	6	3	3	13	15	−2	110	140	−30	6
Edinburgh Reivers	6	3	3	13	19	−6	112	158	−46	6
Neath	6	1	5	13	17	−4	128	149	−21	2

Results

Date	Stadium	Team	Score	Team
19 November	Netherdale, Galashiels	Edinburgh	23 - 18	FC Grenoble
27 November	Lesdiguières, Grenoble	FC Grenoble	20 - 18	Northampton Saints
11 December	The Gnoll, Neath	Neath RFC	43 - 14	FC Grenoble
18 December	Lesdiguières, Grenoble	FC Grenoble	21 - 10	Neath RFC
9 January	Franklin's Gardens, Northampton	Northampton Saints	27 - 16	FC Grenoble
15 January	Lesdiguières, Grenoble	FC Grenoble	21 - 19	Edinburgh

Descent and come back in the elite

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.^[11] 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. They ended the 2007–08 season in eighth, close to the play-offs. In 2010–11 Grenoble finished second, losing the play-off semi-final game at home against Union Bordeaux Bègles. In 2011–12 Grenoble finished first, securing their return to the Top 14 for the 2012–13 season. In their first season back in the top flight, they were in contention for a playoff place early in the season, but faded to 11th, still safely above the relegation zone. After the 2016–17 season, Grenoble have been relegated to the Pro D2 and in the 2017–18 season, ProD2 runners-up Grenoble have been promoted to the Top14, after a 47–22 victory over Oyonnax. The promotion/relegation play-off win sees Grenoble head back to the French top flight, having dropped down this time last season.

Honours

French championship Top 14
- Champions (1): 1954
- Runners-up (1): 1993
Coupe de l'Espérance
- Runners-up (1): 1918
Pro D2
- Champions (2): 1951, 2012
- Runners-up (4): 2002, 2018, 2023, 2024
Challenge Yves du Manoir
- Champions (1): 1987
- Runners-up (3): 1969, 1986, 1990
Access Match:
- Champions (1): 2018
- Runners-up (3): 2019, 2023, 2024
European Champion Clubs' Cup FIRA
- Runners-up (1): 1963

Finals results

French championship

Date	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Venue	Spectators
23 May 1954	FC Grenoble	5-3	US Cognac	Stadium Municipal, Toulouse	34,230
5 June 1993	Castres Olympique	14-11	FC Grenoble	Parc des Princes, Paris	49,061

Coupe de l'Espérance

Date	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Venue	Spectators
28 april 1918	Racing Club de France	22-9	FC Grenoble	Stade du Matin, Colombes	3000

Challenge Yves du Manoir

Date	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Venue	Spectators
24 May 1969	US Dax	24–12	FC Grenoble	Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes	2,902
1 May 1986	AS Montferrand	22-15	FC Grenoble	Stadium, Brive-la-Gaillarde	10,400
10 May 1987	FC Grenoble	26–7	SU Agen	Parc des Sports Et de l'Amitié, Narbonne	3,200
19 May 1990	RC Narbonne	24–19	FC Grenoble	Stade du Hameau, Pau	5,500

Current standings

2024–25 Pro D2 Table
Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Provence	10	6	1	3	245	192	+53	3	2	31	Semi-final promotion playoff place
2	Grenoble	10	7	0	3	263	229	+34	2	1	31	Semi-final promotion playoff place
3	Montauban	10	7	0	3	274	251	+23	1	2	31	Quarter-final promotion playoff place
4	Brive	10	6	0	4	265	217	+48	3	2	29
5	Biarritz	10	6	0	4	249	234	+15	2	1	27
6	Béziers	10	5	0	5	252	191	+61	2	5	27
7	Soyaux Angoulême	10	5	2	3	225	215	+10	1	1	26
8	Colomiers	10	5	1	4	212	235	−23	0	2	24
9	Agen	10	4	0	6	230	232	−2	0	5	21
10	Mont-de-Marsan	10	4	0	6	264	247	+17	2	3	21
11	Dax	10	5	0	5	192	219	−27	0	1	21
12	Nevers	10	4	0	6	194	243	−49	1	2	19
13	Oyonnax	10	4	0	6	201	217	−16	1	1	18
14	Aurillac	10	4	0	6	231	282	−51	0	1	17
15	Nice	10	3	0	7	193	267	−74	0	4	16	Relegation play-off
16	Valence Romans	10	3	0	7	255	274	−19	0	3	15	Relegation to Nationale

Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2024. Source: [1]

Current squad

The squad for the 2023–24 season is:^[12]^[13]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player	Position	Union
Lilian Rossi	Hooker	France
Mathis Sarragallet	Hooker	France
Irakli Aptsiauri	Prop	Georgia
Éli Eglaine	Prop	France
Zack Gauthier	Prop	France
Luka Goginava	Prop	Georgia
Siua Halanukonuka	Prop	Tonga
Régis Montagne	Prop	France
Vincent Vial	Prop	France
Giorgi Javakhia	Lock	Georgia
Thomas Lainault	Lock	France
José Madeira	Lock	Portugal
Brandon Nansen	Lock	Samoa
Pierce Phillips	Lock	England
Antonin Berruyer	Back row	France
Steeve Blanc-Mappez	Back row	France
Tala Gray	Back row	Australia
Thibaut Martel	Back row	France
Pio Muarua	Back row	Fiji

Player	Position	Union
Barnabé Couilloud	Scrum-half	France
Eric Escande	Scrum-half	France
Felipe Ezcurra	Scrum-half	Argentina
Romain Barthélémy	Fly-half	France
Sam Davies	Fly-half	Wales
Bautista Ezcurra	Centre	Argentina
Romain Fusier	Centre	France
Terrence Hepetema	Centre	New Zealand
Romain Trouilloud	Centre	France
Geoffrey Cros	Centre	France
Erwan Dridi	Wing	France
Nathan Farissier	Wing	France
Atu Manu	Wing	Tonga
Karim Qadiri	Wing	France
Julien Farnoux	Fullback	France

Notes:

Espoirs squad

Prospective players who have not yet appeared professionally this season.^[14]