CA Saint-Étienne Loire Sud Rugby
Encyclopedia
Club Athlétique de Saint-Étienne Loire Sud Rugby, CASE Loire Sud Rugby, or simply CASE, is a French
rugby union
club from Saint-Étienne
in the Loire
département. They are currently competing in Fédérale 1
, having been relegated from Rugby Pro D2
at the end of the 2010–11 season
.
in 2004, one year after merging with the neighbouring club SEMUR and adopting its current name. In 2007, Saint-Etienne were promoted to Fédérale 2
. A mere two years later, they finished 13th overall in the championship, with the top 12 clubs being promoted to Fédérale 1. However, Lombez-Samatan declined their promotion, sending Saint-Étienne to the top amateur division for the first time.
For their first season in Fédérale 1, Saint-Étienne signed the coach Jean-Sébastien Bignat from Arras
, and the international
fullback Alexandre Péclier
from Lyon
. They had an impressive start with two away wins in their first two games, and on November 7, they took on Béziers
in Andrézieux-Bouthéon
's Stade Roger-Baudras. The 3,000 people in the stadium were not the only ones to witness the locals' 15–9 victory though, as the match was broadcast live on Eurosport
, a first for a Fédérale 1
game. This run of good form allowed them to clinch the fourth place in their group and thus to qualify for the Trophée Jean Prat. In the second phase, they finished second behind Tyrosse
and qualified for the Round of 16 where they faced Nice
. They prevailed 19–18 thanks to a last-second drop-goal by Péclier and faced Chalon-sur-Saône
, one of the favorites for promotion, in the quarters. Saint-Étienne stunned them by winning both legs (12–3 at home, 24–20 away), inflicting them their only home defeat of the season in the process. In the semis, they took on Bourg-en-Bresse
. The popular support for the team was such that the municipality allowed the first leg to be played in Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
. Over 16,000 people came to see the locals take the slenderest of leads into the second leg with a 23–22 victory. Another shock 19–16 win in Bourg-en-Bresse sent Saint-Étienne in the Jean Prat Trophy final, but much more importantly gave them a ticket to professional rugby and the Pro D2
, after only one year spent in Fédérale 1, and perhaps more impressively only three years after leaving Fédérale 3. They fell in the final to Carcassonne
16–3.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club from Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne
Saint-Étienne is a city in eastern central France. It is located in the Massif Central, southwest of Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region, along the trunk road that connects Toulouse with Lyon...
in the Loire
Loire
Loire is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the River Loire's upper reaches.-History:Loire was created in 1793 when after just 3½ years the young Rhône-et-Loire department was split into two. This was a response to counter-Revolutionary activities in Lyon...
département. They are currently competing in Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French rugby union club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group...
, having been relegated from Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
at the end of the 2010–11 season
2010–11 Rugby Pro D2 season
Agen, who had been a favorite for promotion ever since they were relegated at the end of the 2006–07 season, finally lived up to the expectations and dominated the championship from the start, finishing with a comfortable 11-point margin over 2nd-placed Lyon and thus earning promotion to the...
.
History
The club was founded in 1908 under the name Stade Forézien Universitaire. They went through a difficult time in the 1960s, and had to merge with the CASE omnisport structure in 1975 at the request of the municipality. It did not help turn back the tide, however, and poor results and fewer and fewer licensed players forced the club to withdraw its senior team from all competitions in 1991. The next year, the club was restarted in 4ème Série, the lowest French rugby division, and was able to climb the ladder, gaining promotion to Fédérale 3Fédérale 3
Fédérale 3 is the fifth division of rugby union in France. The competition involves 226 clubs in 21 pools of 8, and winners can progress up into higher division of competition. The competition above Fédérale 3 is Fédérale 2 and above that, Fédérale 1...
in 2004, one year after merging with the neighbouring club SEMUR and adopting its current name. In 2007, Saint-Etienne were promoted to Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2
Fédérale 2 is a rugby union club championship division in France. It is the fourth division of rugby above Fédérale 3. Teams can earn promotion to Fédérale 1, and subsequently, the professional leagues such as Rugby Pro D2 and the Top 14.-Results:...
. A mere two years later, they finished 13th overall in the championship, with the top 12 clubs being promoted to Fédérale 1. However, Lombez-Samatan declined their promotion, sending Saint-Étienne to the top amateur division for the first time.
For their first season in Fédérale 1, Saint-Étienne signed the coach Jean-Sébastien Bignat from Arras
Rugby Club d'Arras
Rugby Club d'Arras is a French rugby union team, from Arras. They currently play at Fédérale 1....
, and the international
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
fullback Alexandre Péclier
Alexandre Péclier
Alexandre Péclier is a French rugby union player who currently plays for the French club of CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. He earned his first cap for the France national team on July 3, 2004 against the United States. He has won the European Shield in 1997 with Bourgoin, where he played during 10 seasons.-...
from Lyon
Lyon OU
Lyon Olympique Universitaire or LOU is a French rugby union team that competes in the Top 14, the first level of the country's professional league system. They earned their spot in the Top 14 by winning the 2010–11 title of the second-tier Pro D2....
. They had an impressive start with two away wins in their first two games, and on November 7, they took on Béziers
AS Béziers Hérault
Association Sportive Béziers Hérault, often referred to by rugby media simply by its location of Béziers, is a French rugby union club preparing to return to the second tier of the country's professional rugby system, Pro D2. They earned promotion as 2011 Fédérale 1 champions...
in Andrézieux-Bouthéon
Andrézieux-Bouthéon
Andrézieux-Bouthéon is a commune of the Loire department in central France.-See also:* Saint-Étienne - Bouthéon Airport* Furan River* ASF Andrézieux* HEF Groupe*Communes of the Loire department...
's Stade Roger-Baudras. The 3,000 people in the stadium were not the only ones to witness the locals' 15–9 victory though, as the match was broadcast live on Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
, a first for a Fédérale 1
Fédérale 1
Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a French rugby union club competition, the highest level of amateur rugby. The competition has been organised by the Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group...
game. This run of good form allowed them to clinch the fourth place in their group and thus to qualify for the Trophée Jean Prat. In the second phase, they finished second behind Tyrosse
Union Sportive Tyrosse Rugby Côte Sud
Union Sportive Tyrossaise Rugby Côte Sud is a French rugby union club, currently playing in the third division of the French league system, in Fédérale 1. Tyrosse were relegated from the Rugby Pro D2 competition down to Fédérale 1 after the 2005-06 season...
and qualified for the Round of 16 where they faced Nice
Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-Racing
Rugby Nice Côte d'Azur Université-Racing is a French rugby union club, currently playing in the third highest division of the French league system, in Fédérale 1. Nice was founded in 1912, as Racing Rugby Club de Nice. Nice has in the past been in the top division of French rugby, and was runner-up...
. They prevailed 19–18 thanks to a last-second drop-goal by Péclier and faced Chalon-sur-Saône
RC Chalon
Racing Club Chalonnais, also known simply as RC Chalon is a French rugby union club from Chalon-sur-Saône. They competed in Fédérale 1, the third level of the French league system, in the 2009–10 season, but recent financial troubles saw them relegated two levels, to Fédérale 3, for...
, one of the favorites for promotion, in the quarters. Saint-Étienne stunned them by winning both legs (12–3 at home, 24–20 away), inflicting them their only home defeat of the season in the process. In the semis, they took on Bourg-en-Bresse
Union Sportive Bressane
Union Sportive Bressane is a general sports club based in the town of Bourg-en-Bresse, France. The club has competed the past few years in France's third division and top amateur league, Fédérale 1. During the 2007-08 season, they managed to reach the final of the Jean-Prat championship and faced a...
. The popular support for the team was such that the municipality allowed the first leg to be played in Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard is a multi-purpose stadium in Saint-Étienne, France. It is used primarily for football matches, and tournaments such as the 1984 European Football Championship, the Football World Cup 1998 and the Confederations Cup 2003. It is also used for rugby union, and was a venue at...
. Over 16,000 people came to see the locals take the slenderest of leads into the second leg with a 23–22 victory. Another shock 19–16 win in Bourg-en-Bresse sent Saint-Étienne in the Jean Prat Trophy final, but much more importantly gave them a ticket to professional rugby and the Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second level of domestic club rugby union in France, below the first division, Top 14. The competition was introduced in 2000. There is relegation and promotion between both the Top 14 and Fédérale 1, the third-level competition...
, after only one year spent in Fédérale 1, and perhaps more impressively only three years after leaving Fédérale 3. They fell in the final to Carcassonne
US Carcassonne
Union Sportive Carcassonnaise are a French rugby union club based in Carcassonne. US Carcassonne currently compete in the Pro D2 of French rugby. The club were established in 1899. They play in black and yellow colours and at the Stade Albert-Domec...
16–3.