Rugby Top 14 Orange Bayonne Full name: Aviron Bayonnais Founded: 1904 Stadium: Stade Jean Dauger (12,000) Location: Bayonne, France Bayonne are a club of small success - past success. Even though they are a competitive rugby team, they have ups and downs every season and for the past few decades have failed to maintain position when in reach of the Bouclier de Brennus, the Rugby Top 14 Orange championship. Located in the southwest of France, Aviron Bayonnais were founded in 1904 and have won 3 Top 14 titles with the last being in 1943. The last time they reached the final was back in 1982 when they lost to current Pro D2 (second division side) Agen. Last season, Bayonne finished in 9th place. Biarritz Full name: Biarritz Olympique-Pays Basque Founded: 1913 Stadium: Parc des Sports Aguiléra (12,667) Location: Biarritz, France Biarritz has surged through the early and mid 2000's, but since losing a few key players and other current ones beginning to show some age, they have fallen off the super rugby club map. Located in the southwest of France near the Atlantic coast (Basque country), Biarritz Olympique-Pays Basque were founded in 1913 and have won 5 Top 14 titles with the last being in 2006. They dominated French rugby not too long ago by winning titles in 2002 and again in 2005 and repeating the following season. 2006 was their highest point when they also reached the Heineken Cup (European rugby union championship) final against Munster, which they lost. The team has a reputation for keeping hold of key players and not toying around too much in the transfer market. Many of their players, be it current or past legends, have either only played for Biarritz through their careers or once arriving have never left. Players like Dimitri Yachvili, Damien Traille, Jérôme Thion and Imanol Harinordoquy are club stars and international representatives. Last season, Biarritz finished in 6th placed. Bourgoin-Jallieu Full name: Club Sportif Bourgoin-Jallieu Rugby Founded: 1906 Stadium: Stade Pierre Rajon (9,441) Location: Bourgoin-Jallieu, France Bourgoin-Jallieu has had moderate success since reaching the Top 14 level, but recent times have been hard since losing their top player Julien Bonnaire to Clermont Auvergne. Located near the French Alps, CS Bourgoin-Jallieu were founded in 1906 and have never won the Bouclier de Brennus. One of their peak points was back in 1997 when they reached the Top 14 final and lost to Stade Toulousain. Other success came to them in the Heineken Cup group stages back in 2002/03 when they finished second and advanced to the next round. Recently the club has been more focused on building their youth and keeping veteran French international Olivier Milloud happy. Perhaps their best youngster is Morgan Parra, who has already made first team appearances for the French national team. Last season, Bourgoin finished in 10th place. Brive Full name: Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin Founded: 1913 Stadium: Stade Amédée-Domenech (15,000) Location: Brive-la-Gaillarde, France Brive were once considered as a super rugby club in Europe through the 1990's and early 2000's, but recently have fallen apart. Recent success has been hard to come by and over the past few seasons they have struggled to remain in the Top 14 by barely avoiding relegation. Located in the Limousin region (famous for the birth place of the limo), CA Brive Corrèze Limousin were founded in 1913 and have never won the Bouclier de Brennus. The team has reached the Top 14 final 4 separate times and has lost each challenge with the their last being in 1996. Their peak point was in 1997 when they won the Heineken Cup by defeating England's Leicester Tigers. The following season they reached the Heineken Cup final again and lost to Bath. Last season, Brive finished in 11th place. Castres Full name: Castres Olympique Founded: 1898 Stadium: Stade Pierre-Antoine (11,500) Location: Castres, France Castres are similar to Bayonne where they are always up and down. With their current roster, the media favored them to improve and stay competitive. However, after a successful season in 2007/08 they have fallen off the map. Castres Olympique were founded in 1898 and have won 3 Top 14 titles with the last being in 1993. The team also reached the final in 1995, but lost to Stade Toulousain. They also reached the European Challenge Cup (second-highest ranked European rugby championship) final twice, losing both in 1997 and again in 2000. While they may not be at the top of the standings recently, they are well known for having French national team captain Lionel Nallet on the team. Last season, Castres finished in 5th place. Clermont Auvergne Full name: Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne Founded: 1911 Stadium: Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin (15,838) Location: Clermont-Ferrand, France Clermont is one of the big clubs in French rugby union today. That being public knowledge, some find it difficult to believe that they have had such limited success even through recent times. Located in central France, ASM Clermont Auvergne were founded in 1911 and have never won the Bouclier de Brennus. The team has reached the Top 14 final 9 times over and long and agonizing history and has lost every time. Their most recent loses in 2007 to Stade Français and 2008 to Stade Toulousain. The team has invested plenty of money to ensure a long awaited Bouclier de Brennus triumph at the end of the 2008/09 season. Success in Europe has not been far from reach though. In 1999 and 2007 the team has won the European Challenge Cup. Outside of dozens of international representatives and other superstars stands underrated Australian fly-half Brock James. He has become a Clermont icon and an important leader for the team in recent times. Last season, Clermont finished in 1st place, but lost in the playoffs to Stade Toulousain. Dax Full name: Union Sportive Dacquoise Founded: 1904 Stadium: Stade Maurice Boyau (15,000) Location: Dax, France Mont-de-Marsan Full name: Stade Montois Rugby Pro Founded: 1908 Stadium: Stade Guy Boniface (26,100) Location: Mont-de-Marsan, France Montauban Full name: Union Sportive Montalbanaise Founded: 1905 Stadium: Stade Sapiac (11,500) Location: Montauban, France Montpellier Full name: Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club Founded: 1986 Stadium: Stade Yves-du-Manoir (12,734) Location: Montpellier, France Perpignan Full name: Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignanais Founded: 1902 Stadium: Stade Aimé Giral (13,000) Location: Perpignan, France Stade Français Paris Full name: Stade Français Club Athlétique des Sports Généraux Founded: 1883 Stadium: Stade Jean-Bouin (12,000) Location: Paris, France Toulon Full name: Rugby Club Toulonnais Founded: 1908 Stadium: Stade Mayol (13,700) Location: Toulon, France Toulouse Full name: Stade Toulousain Founded: 1907 Stadium: Stade Ernest-Wallon (19,500) Location: Toulouse, France More to come .. I hope to gain some forum interest in this topic.
He's actually doing fairly well. He's still young too so I expect him to improve as the team continues to reshape.
Everything I wrote in this so far has been my own work. Had it been stolen from Wikipedia I would've finished the information on every club on day one. Only the images of the jerseys are taken directly from the official LNR website. I used to create them every season with my own template, but it became too time consuming. Here is my version of Stade Français' set back in 06/07:
