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 (1892)
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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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]

Since then the club has struggled.

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	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	Pts
Northampton	6	5	0	1	19	7	12	184	87	97	10
FC Grenoble	6	3	0	3	13	15	−2	110	140	−30	6
Edinburgh Reivers	6	3	0	3	13	19	−6	112	158	−46	6
Neath	6	1	0	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

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.

• 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

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:

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

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

Player Position Union Léo Boullier Hooker France Barnabé Massa Hooker France Theo Lavoine Prop France Giorgi Mamaiashvili Prop Georgia Sascha Mistrulli Prop France Hilan Delbois Lock France Davit Lagvilava Lock Georgia Quentin Dubois Back row France Victor Guillaumond Back row France Diego Pinheiro Ruiz Back row France Michka Reviriego Back row France

Player Position Union Kelian Boissier Scrum-half France Max Clement Fly-half France Hugo Trouilloud Fly-half France Martin Blanquart Centre France Jules Escoffier Centre France Loris Prin Centre France Wilfried Hulleu Wing France

Position	Name	Nationality
Head Coach	Aubin Hueber	FRA
Senior Coach	Nicolas Nadau	FRA
Forwards Coach	Patrick Pézery	FRA
Defence Coach	Tom Palmer	FRA

• 
  Sergio Lanfranchi
• 
  Robbie Deans
• 
  Grzegorz Kacała
• 
  Ovidiu Tonița
• 
  Sam Cordingley
• 
  Alipate Ratini
• 
  Ange Capuozzo
• 
  Deon Fourie

• 
  Joseph Desclaux
• 
  Olivier Brouzet
• 
  Sylvain Marconnet
• 
  Fabrice Landreau
• 
  Vincent Clerc
• 
  Brian Liebenberg
• 
  Paul Willemse
• 
  Kilian Geraci
• 
  Louis Bielle-Biarrey

Cyril Savy is the first player to use a tee in France in 1993.^[15] In the semi-finals at the last minute of the game when the FCG faces SU Agen, Savy succeeds a penalty a goal of 60m and gets an overtime. His club came out victorious before being deprived of a title of champion of France on a refereeing error in a controversial final against Castres Olympique.^[16]

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

• (in French) FC Grenoble Official website

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FC Grenoble rugby.