Provence Rugby

Provence Rugby (Occitan: Provença Rugbi) is a French rugby union club currently playing in Rugby Pro D2, the second tier of France's league system. They were promoted back to the second level for the 2018–19 season after 2 seasons in Fédérale 1.

Provence
Full nameProvence Rugby
Nickname(s)Les Noirs (The Blacks) Le PARC
Founded1970 (1970)
LocationAix-en-Provence, France
Ground(s)Stade Maurice David (Capacity: 6,428)
PresidentDenis Philipon
Coach(es)Mauricio Reggiardo
Captain(s)Ludovic Radosavljevic
League(s)Pro D2
2021–227th
Team kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.provencerugby.com

Based in Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône just north of Marseille, the club was founded in 1970. They currently play at Stade Maurice David and wear black. The club was known as Aix Rugby Club from 1970 to 2001, and Pays d'Aix Rugby Club (PARC) from 2001 to 2015.

At the end of 2004/5 they were promoted to Pro D2 but were relegated back to Fédérale 1 at the end of the season. They would return to Pro D2 as runners-up to Lannemezan in 2009. In the 2009–10 season, they finished next-to-last on the league table, in a relegation spot. However, they were reprieved when Top 14 club Montauban filed for bankruptcy and were relegated directly to Fédérale 1. They would suffer the drop after the 2012-13 season, not returning until 2015–16.

By that time, they had changed their name to the current Provence Rugby, officially announcing the name change on 22 June 2015.[1]

Provence finished last in the 2015–16 Pro D2 season. Initially, they were spared relegation when four clubs were relegated to Fédérale 1 due to financial mismanagement, but three of these eventually won appeals and remained in Pro D2,[2][3] consigning Provence to the drop.

Honours
One of several logos used by the club in the early 21st century.
  • Fédérale 1:
    • Champions: 2004, 2015, 2018
    • Runners-up: 2009
  • Deuxième Division:
    • Champions: 1986

Current standings
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1 Oyonnax 18 14 1 3 10 559 226 +333 68 Top 14 promotion play-offs
2 Mont-de-Marsan 18 12 0 6 6 449 382 +67 54
3 Agen 18 10 0 8 9 367 314 +53 49
4 Colomiers 18 11 0 7 4 391 380 +11 48
5 Biarritz 18 9 2 7 6 433 368 +65 46
6 Grenoble 17 9 3 5 3 334 339 −5 42[lower-alpha 1]
7 Vannes 18 8 1 9 7 379 372 +7 41
8 Béziers 18 8 0 10 8 405 393 +12 40
9 Nevers 18 8 1 9 5 365 356 +9 39
10 Aurillac 17 9 0 8 2 322 387 −65 38
11 Provence 18 7 2 9 5 369 380 −11 37
12 Rouen 18 8 0 10 4 358 436 −78 36
13 Carcassonne 18 7 1 10 2 290 382 −92 32
14 Montauban 18 7 1 10 3 388 442 −54 31[lower-alpha 1]
15 Soyaux Angoulême 18 5 0 13 5 343 453 −110 25 Relegation to Nationale
16 Massy 18 5 0 13 3 306 448 −142 23
Updated to match(es) played on 29 January 2023. Source: Pro D2
Rules for classification: When two teams have the same points total, position is determined by head-to-head results before points difference.
Notes:
  1. Grenoble and Montauban will be penalised 5 competition points as the season progresses, for financial and administrative issues that made the clubs "non-compliant with the regulatory provisions and decisions of the CCCP".[4][5]

Current squad
For player movements before or during the 2021–22 season, see List of 2021–22 Rugby Pro D2 transfers § Provence.

The Provence squad for the 2021–22 season:[6]

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
Loïck Jammes Hooker France
Germán Kessler Hooker Uruguay
Lucas Martin Hooker France
Mike Corbel Prop France
David Lolohea Prop Tonga
Mohammed Loukia Prop France
Antoine Soave Prop France
Luke Tagi Prop Fiji
Nicolás Toth Prop Argentina
Thomas Vernet Prop France
Federico Wegrzyn Prop Argentina
Jérôme Dufour Lock France
Alexandre Flanquart Lock France
Hans N'Kinsi Lock France
Grégory Annetta Back row France
Karl Malanda Back row France
Charles Malet Back row France
Nicolas Mousties Back row Switzerland
Guillaume Piazzoli Back row France
Tyrone Viiga Back row Cook Islands
Quentin Witt Back row France
Player Position Union
Adrien Bau Scrum-half France
Théo Nanette Scrum-half France
Jonathan Ruru Scrum-half New Zealand
Nicolas Bézy Fly-half France
Enzo Selponi Fly-half France
Théo Belan Centre France
Charles Brousse Centre France
Seremaia Burotu Centre Fiji
Louis Marrou Centre France
Peter Betham Wing Australia
Kevin Bly Wing France
Eroni Sau Wing Fiji
Florent Massip Fullback France

Notable former players
  • Jean-Luc Aqua
  • Guillaume Delmotte
  • Norman Jordaan
  • Yannick Ricardo (Portuguese international)
  • George Kutarashvili (Georgian international)
  • Legi Matiu (French international)
  • Mihai Lazăr (Romanian international)
  • Ovidiu Toniţa (Romanian international)
  • Bertus Smit (South African Tighthead Prop)
  • Chris Wyatt (Welsh international)

References
  1. "LE PARC devient Provence Rugby" (Press release) (in French). Provence Rugby. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. "Biarritz et Narbonne Maintenus en PRO D2" [Biarritz and Narbonne Remain in Pro D2] (Press release) (in French). Ligue Nationale de Rugby. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
  3. "Bourgoin Reste en PRO D2" [Bourgoin Remains in Pro D2] (Press release) (in French). Ligue Nationale de Rugby. 11 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  4. "Le FCG sanctionné de trois points de retrait au classement par la Ligue !". Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023. Un retrait de cinq points dont deux points avec sursis au classement du championnat professionnel de Pro D2 de la saison en cours [...] Cette sanction a été prononcée au motif du « non-respect des dispositions réglementaires et décisions de la CCCP ».{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. "Pro D2 : l'US Montauban sanctionnée de cinq points de retrait pour la prochaine saison !" [Pro D2: US Montauban sanctioned with five withdrawal points for the next season!]. La Dépêche (in French). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. "Effectif". Provence Rugby (in French). Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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