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Provence Rugby

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
France Provence
Full nameProvence Rugby
NicknameLes Noirs (The Blacks) Le PARC
Founded1970; 56 years ago (1970)
LocationAix-en-Provence, France
GroundStade Maurice David (Capacity: 8,767)
PresidentDenis Philipon
CoachPhilippe Saint-André
CaptainArthur Coville
LeaguePro D2
2024–254th
Team kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.provencerugby.com

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

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 returned 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 did, however, suffdler relegation 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.

In the 2023-24 Pro D2 season Provence Rugby finished the regular season in first place. This was the first time in the clubs history that they made the finals of the Pro D2.

Honours

[edit]
One of several logos used by the club in the early 21st century.
  • Pro D2:
    • Runners up: 2026
  • Fédérale 1:
    • Champions: 2004, 2015, 2018
    • Runners-up: 2009
  • Deuxième Division:
    • Champions: 1986

Current standings

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2025–26 Pro D2 Table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Vannes 30 24 1 5 1092 543 +549 15 3 116 Semi-final promotion playoff place
2 Colomiers 30 21 0 9 847 522 +325 8 3 95
3 Provence 30 19 0 11 905 726 +179 9 7 92 Quarter-final promotion playoff place
4 Oyonnax 30 17 0 13 953 659 +294 9 9 86
5 Valence Romans 30 19 0 11 803 760 +43 4 4 84
6 Brive 30 17 1 12 906 642 +264 11 2 83
7 Agen 30 15 0 15 796 750 +46 9 3 72
8 Grenoble 30 14 0 16 739 829 −90 2 4 62
9 Soyaux Angoulême 30 13 0 17 576 770 −194 2 5 59
10 Biarritz 30 12 1 17 762 879 −117 8 1 54
11 Dax 30 14 0 16 706 742 −36 6 7 55
12 Béziers 30 12 0 18 657 804 −147 4 4 56
13 Nevers 30 11 1 18 760 1024 −264 4 3 53
14 Aurillac 30 11 0 19 718 908 −190 2 7 53
15 Mont-de-Marsan 30 11 1 18 701 950 −249 3 2 51 Relegation play-off
16 Carcassonne 30 7 1 22 572 985 −413 0 5 35 Relegation to Nationale
Updated to match(es) played on 17 May 2026. Source:

Current squad

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The Provence squad for the 2026/2027:[4][5]

Provence 2026–27 Pro D2 squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain.
(vc) denotes vice-captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
Source: [4][5]
Provence 2025–26 Espoirs squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain.
(vc) denotes vice-captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
Source: [4][5]

Notable former players

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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. 1 2 3 "Effectif". Provence Rugby (in French). Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Aix squad for season 2026/27". all.rugby. Retrieved 2026-09-05.
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