AS Béziers Hérault

Association Sportive Béziers Hérault (Occitan: Associacion Esportiva de Besièrs Erau), often referred to by rugby media simply by its location of Béziers, is a French rugby union club currently playing in the second level of the country's professional rugby system, Pro D2. They earned their most recent promotion as 2011 Fédérale 1 champions,[1] but the club also won 11 Top 14 titles since its establishment in 1911.

This article is about the rugby section of AS Béziers. For the defunct football section, see AS Béziers (football). For the football club founded in 2007, see AS Béziers (2007).
Béziers
UnionFédération Française de Rugby
Founded1911 (1911)
LocationBéziers, France
Ground(s)Stade Raoul-Barrière (Capacity: 18,555)
PresidentCédric Bistué
Coach(es)Manny Edmonds
Christophe Hamacek
League(s)Pro D2
2022–239th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.asbh.net

Béziers was a major force in French rugby throughout the 1970s and 1980s; however, at the end of 2004–05 season they were relegated to Pro D2. After some years playing in French second division, they finished bottom of the table in 2008–09 and were relegated to amateur Fédérale 1,[2] before returning to Pro D2 after their 2011 title. They are based in Béziers in Occitania, and play at Stade Raoul-Barrière (capacity 18,555). The club colors are red and blue.

History

The club was established in 1911. Their first notable honour was being runners-up in the Coupe de France. However it would not be until the 1960s when the club began its rise to prominence. Béziers made their first championship appearance in the 1960 season. On 22 May they faced FC Lourdes in the final, losing 14 points to 11 in Toulouse. Béziers found mixed success during the 1960s following their first championship loss to Lourdes. The next season they won their first championship, defeating US Dax 6 points to 3 in Lyon. They were also runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir that season. They also contested the domestic championship in 1962, though they lost to SU Agen 14 to 11 in the final. Béziers performed well in the 1964 season as well; losing the championship final to Section Paloise, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir.

After the success during the early 1960s Béziers became a powerful club in the 1970s. In 1971 Béziers made it to the final of the domestic championship; defeating RC Toulon 15 points to 9 in Bordeaux. The following season Béziers captured the championship, defeating Brive 9 points to nil in Lyon, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well. The club won championships in 1974 and 1975, defeating RC Narbonne and Brive respectively, both times at Parc des Princes in Paris. They were also involved in the 1976 final, though they lost to Agen, 13 to 10. The following season they won the championship again, defeating Perpignan 12 to 4 in the final. They also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well.

The next season they successfully defended their domestic title; defeating ASM Clermont Auvergne 31 points to 9 in the championship game in Paris. They however did not win back-to-back Challenge Yves du Manoir titles; though they came close, being runners-up. The success continued in the early 1980s as well, winning the championship of the 1980 season, defeating Toulouse 10 to 6 in the final, as well as being Challenge Yves du Manoir runners-up that season. Béziers repeated this again the next season; actually defeating Toulouse in the championship final again, and were runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir. They were champions again in 1983 and 1984, defeating RC Nice and Agen in the finals respectively. They also won the Coupe de France in the 1986 season.

Béziers returned to the professional ranks in 2011–12 following their 13–6 win over Périgueux in the 2011 Fédérale 1 final on June 26. Both finalists were assured of promotion to Pro D2.

They struggled in their return season in Pro D2, finishing next-to last on the league table and well out of the safety zone. However, when ninth-place Bourgoin were forcibly relegated to Fédérale 1 for financial reasons,[3] Béziers remained in Pro D2 for 2012–13.

Honours
  • French championship:
    • Champions: 1961, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984
    • Runners-up: 1960, 1962, 1964, 1976
  • Challenge Yves du Manoir
    • Champions: 1964, 1972, 1977
    • Runners-up: 1961, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1981
  • Coupe de France
    • Champions: 1986
    • Runners-up: 1950
  • Fédérale 1
    • Champions: 2011
  • Elite 2
    • Champions: 2000
  • coupe d'europe Fira
    • Champions: 1962

Finals results

French championship
Date Winner Runner-up Score Venue Spectators
22 May 1960 FC Lourdes AS Béziers 14–11 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37.200
28 May 1961 AS Béziers US Dax 6–3 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 35.000
27 May 1962 SU Agen AS Béziers 14–11 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37.705
24 May 1964 Section Paloise AS Béziers 14–0 Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 27.797
16 May 1971 AS Béziers RC Toulon 15–9 AP Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 27.737
21 May 1972 AS Béziers CA Brive 9–0 Stade de Gerland, Lyon 31.161
12 May 1974 AS Béziers RC Narbonne 16–14 Parc des Princes, Paris 40.609
18 May 1975 AS Béziers CA Brive 13–12 Parc des Princes, Paris 39.991
23 May 1976 SU Agen AS Béziers 13–10 AP Parc des Princes, Paris 40.300
29 May 1977 AS Béziers USA Perpignan 12–4 Parc des Princes, Paris 41.821
28 May 1978 AS Béziers AS Montferrand 31–9 Parc des Princes, Paris 42.004
25 May 1980 AS Béziers Stade Toulousain 10–6 Parc des Princes, Paris 43.350
23 May 1981 AS Béziers Stade Bagnérais 22–13 Parc des Princes, Paris 44.106
28 May 1983 AS Béziers RC Nice 14–6 Parc des Princes, Paris 43.100
26 May 1984 AS Béziers SU Agen 21–21 Parc des Princes, Paris 44.076

Challenge Yves du Manoir
Year Winner Score Runner-up
1961 Stade Montois 17–8 AS Béziers
1964 AS Béziers 6–3 Section Paloise
1972 AS Béziers 27–6 AS Montferrand
1973 RC Narbonne 13–6 AS Béziers
1977 AS Béziers 19–18 FC Lourdes
1978 RC Narbonne 19–19
(more tries scored)		 AS Béziers
1980 Aviron Bayonnais 16–10 AS Béziers
1981 FC Lourdes 25–13 AS Béziers

Coupe de France
Year Winner Score Runner-up
1950 FC Lourdes 16–3 AS Béziers
1986 AS Béziers 40–9 Stade Aurillacois

Trophée Jean-Prat (Fédérale 1)
Date Winner Score Runner-up Venue Spectators
26 June 2011 AS Béziers 13–6 CA Périgueux Stade Sapiac, Montauban

Current standings
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1 Oyonnax (C, P) 30 23 1 6 904 457 +447 17 111 Top 14 promotion play-offs
2 Grenoble 30 19 3 8 672 588 +84 8 87[lower-alpha 1]
3 Mont-de-Marsan 30 19 0 11 764 649 +115 10 86
4 Nevers 30 17 3 10 718 551 +167 11 85
5 Vannes 30 17 1 12 718 633 +85 11 81
6 Agen 30 15 1 14 653 583 +70 15 77
7 Colomiers 30 15 0 15 674 678 −4 10 70
8 Provence 30 13 4 13 652 638 +14 9 69
9 Béziers 30 13 1 16 700 716 −16 11 65
10 Aurillac 30 15 0 15 586 706 −120 5 65
11 Biarritz 30 12 2 16 690 699 −9 8 60
12 Rouen 30 12 2 16 594 767 −173 6 58
13 Montauban 30 12 1 17 678 784 −106 6 54[lower-alpha 1]
14 Soyaux Angoulême 30 11 0 19 569 697 −128 8 52
15 Carcassonne (R) 30 10 1 19 553 677 −124 10 52 Relegation to Nationale
16 Massy (R) 30 7 0 23 499 801 −302 5 33
Source: Pro D2
Rules for classification: When two teams have the same points total, position is determined by head-to-head results before points difference.
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. Grenoble were penalised three competition points, and Montauban were penalised two, for financial and administrative issues that made the clubs "non-compliant with the regulatory provisions and decisions of the CCCP".[4][5]

Current squad
For player movements before or during the 2022–23 season, see List of 2022–23 Rugby Pro D2 transfers § Béziers.

The Béziers squad for the 2022–23 season is:[6]

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

Player Position Union
Wilmar Arnoldi Hooker South Africa South Africa
Clement Esteriola Hooker France France
Yvann Lalevee Hooker France France
Marco Pinto-Ferrer Hooker Spain Spain
Giorgi Akhaladze Prop Georgia (country) Georgia
Yannick Arroyo Prop France France
Ferdinand Changel Prop France France
Francisco Fernandes Prop Portugal Portugal
Jamie Hagan Prop Ireland Ireland
John-Hubert Meyer Prop South Africa South Africa
Jon Zabala Prop Spain Spain
Gillian Benoy Lock Belgium Belgium
Clement Bitz Lock France France
Pierre Gayraud Lock France France
Yasmin Maamry Lock France France
John Madigan Lock Ireland Ireland
Steyl Barnard Back row South Africa South Africa
Jean-Baptiste Barriere Back row France France
Pierrick Gunther Back row France France
Thomas Hoarau Back row France France
Maxence Lemardelet Back row France France
Sias Koen Back row South Africa South Africa
Eloi Massot Back row France France
William Van Bost Back row Belgium Belgium
Player Position Union
Jean-Victor Goillot Scrum-half France France
Mitch Short Scrum-half Australia Australia
Josh Valentine Scrum-half Australia Australia
Victor Dreuille Fly-half France France
Adrien Latorre Fly-half France France
Romain Uruty Fly-half France France
Maxime Espeut Centre France France
Jarrod Poi Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Paul Reau Centre France France
Paul Recor Centre France France
Dries Swanepoel Centre South Africa South Africa
James Tofa Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Paul Alquier Wing France France
Raffaele Storti Wing Portugal Portugal
Pierre Courtaud Wing France France
Nicolas Plazy Wing France France
Watisoni Votu Wing Fiji Fiji
Gabin Lorre Fullback France France
Charly Malie Fullback France France

Espoirs squad

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

Player Position Union
Enzo Ayela Hooker France France
Luca Nouchi Prop France France
Julien Rasamoelina Prop France France
Clement Samper Prop France France
Paul Beltran Lock France France
Anthony Bermond Lock France France
Matthys Louw Lock South Africa South Africa
Romain Amigo Back row France France
Thomas Canaleta Back row France France
Baptiste Delage Back row France France
Antoine Payrastre Back row France France
Joaquim Selma Back row France France
Player Position Union
Gauthier Laborde Scrum-half France France
Lean Sanchis Scrum-half France France
Arnaud Sola Centre France France
Maxime Mazzella Wing France France
Mathias Duchaux Fullback France France

Notable former players

See also

References
  1. "Béziers sacré champion". L'Équipe (in French). 2011-06-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. "Rugby - Fiche equipe Béziers - Calendrier - It's rugby".
  3. Moriarty, Ian (9 August 2012). "Bourgoin wilt under financial pressure". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. "Le FCG sanctionné de trois points de retrait au classement par la Ligue !". Le Dauphiné libéré (in French). 21 November 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023. Un retrait de cinq points dont deux points avec sursis au classement du championnat professionnel de Pro D2 de la saison en cours [...] Cette sanction a été prononcée au motif du « non-respect des dispositions réglementaires et décisions de la CCCP ».
  5. "Pro D2 : l'US Montauban sanctionnée de cinq points de retrait pour la prochaine saison !" [Pro D2: US Montauban sanctioned with five withdrawal points for the next season!]. La Dépêche (in French). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  6. "Effectif Pro". Association Sportive Béziers Hérault. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
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