The Elite One Championship (French: Le Championnat de France Elite) is the top level rugby league competition in France. The season runs from September to April. The clubs play each other home and away then they enter into a play-off series culminating with a Grand Final.
Founded | 2002 |
---|---|
Country | France |
Number of teams | 10 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Promotion to | [a] |
Relegation to | Elite Two Championship |
Domestic cup(s) | Lord Derby Cup |
Current champions | Saint-Esteve Catalan (2019) |
Most championships | AS Carcassonne (11) |
TV partners | Sport en France, viàOccitanie |
Website | site |
Current: Elite One Championship 2020–2021 |
History
- See also French Rugby League Championship
The French Rugby League Championship began in 1934, the first one being the only one where it was won by the team finishing top of the table on points and not by a play-off series. The Elite One Championship was founded in 2002 after the French Rugby League Championship was split into two divisions. The format stayed the same with teams playing each other home and away, before a play-off series would determine the Champions. The club finishing bottom would not be automatically relegated, it would be dependent on whether the club finishing top of Elite Two Championship either wanted to be promoted or their facilities were up to standard.
Teams for 2020–21 season
Elite One Championship | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Stadium | Location | ||
Albi Tigers | Stadium Mazicou | Albi, Tarn | ||
SO Avignon | Parc des Sports (Avignon) | Avignon, Vaucluse | ||
AS Carcassonne | Stade Albert Domec | Carcassonne, Aude | ||
FC Lézignan | Stade du Moulin | Lézignan-Corbières, Aude | ||
Limoux Grizzlies | Stade de l'Aiguille | Limoux, Aude | ||
Palau Broncos | Stade Georges Vaills | Palau-del-Vidre, Pyrénées-Orientales | ||
Saint-Estève Catalan | Stade Municipal | Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales | ||
Saint-Gaudens Bears | Stade Jules Ribet | Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne | ||
Toulouse Olympique Broncos | Stade des Minimes | Toulouse, Haute-Garonne | ||
Villenueve | Stade Max Rousie | Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Lot-et-Garonne |
Map
Results
Year | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2002–03 | Villeneuve | 31–18 | St Gaudens | Stade des Sports Et de l'Amitie, Narbonne | 8,000 |
2003–04 | St Gaudens | 14–10 | Union Treiziste Catalane | Perpignan | 7,500 |
2004–05 | Union Treiziste Catalane | 66–16 | Toulouse | Stade des Sports Et de l'Amitie, Narbonne | 5,000 |
2005–06 | Pia | 21–18 | Toulouse | Toulouse | 5,462 |
2006–07 | Pia | 20–16 | Lézignan | Stade Michel-Bendichou, Colomiers | 7,882 |
2007–08 | Lézignan | 26–16 | Pia | Stade de la Mediterranee, Béziers | 9,550 |
2008–09 | Lézignan | 40–32 | Limoux | Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne | 11,263 |
2009–10 | Lézignan | 32–22 | Pia | Altrad Stadium, Montpellier | 6,612 |
2010–11 | Lézignan | 17–12 | Limoux | Parc des Sports et de l'Amitie, Narbonne | 11,874 |
2011–12 | Carcassonne | 26–20 | Pia | 8,980 | |
2012–13 | Pia | 33–26 | St Estève-Catalan | Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | 6,732 |
2013–14 | Toulouse | 38–12 | Lézignan | 7,245 | |
2014–15 | Toulouse | 20–12 | Carcassonne | Stade Michel-Bendichou, Colomiers | 5,800 |
2015–16 | Limoux | 26–24 | Carcassonne | Stadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi | 5,420 |
2016–17 | Limoux | 24–22 | Lézignan | Parc des Sports et l,Amitie, Narbonne | 8,270 |
2017–18 | Avignon | 30–28 | Limoux | Stadium Municipal d’Albi, Albi | 5,000 |
2018–19 | St Estève-Catalan | 32–24 | Carcassonne | 1,500 | |
2019–20 | Season was voided due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
Winners
# | Club | No. | Year(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Lézignan Sangliers | 4 | 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11 |
2 | Pia XIII | 3 | 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13 |
3 | Villeneuve Leopards | 2 | 2002, 2002–03 |
Toulouse Olympique | 2013–14, 2014–15 | ||
Limoux Grizzlies | 2015–16, 2016–17 | ||
6 | SO Avignon | 1 | 2017–18 |
Saint-Gaudens Bears | 2003–04 | ||
Union Treiziste Catalane | 2004–05 | ||
AS Carcassonne | 2011–12 | ||
Saint-Esteve XIII Catalan | 2018–19 |
See also
- Rugby league in France
- France national rugby league team
- France women's national rugby league team
- French Rugby League Championship
- Elite Two Championship
- National Division 1
- National Division 2
- Lord Derby Cup
- Coupe Falcou
- Paul Dejean Cup
- French rugby league system
Notes
- ^ The Elite One Championship is the highest level of the French rugby league system, however teams can apply to the RFL to play in tiers one, two, or three of the British rugby league system (providing they meet certain criteria) as this is generally considered a higher standard of rugby.
References
External links
- Google map showing location of Elite One sides
- French rugby league federation
- Infostreize
- Le monde du rugby à XIII[permanent dead link]