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
2023–243rd
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

Finals results

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

Challenge Yves du Manoir
Date Winners Score Runners-up
1960 Stade Montois 9–9 AS Béziers
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
1975 AS Béziers 16–12 SU Agen
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

French Cup
Date Winners Score Runners-up
1950 FC Lourdes 16–3 AS Béziers
1986 AS Béziers 40–9 Stade Aurillacois

Current standings
2023–24 Pro D2 Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Provence 30 20 2 8 803 632 +171 8 3 95 Semi-final promotion playoff place
2 Vannes 30 17 2 11 777 508 +269 10 7 89
3 Béziers 30 17 1 12 789 715 +74 6 4 80 Quarter-final promotion playoff place
4 Grenoble 30 19 0 11 826 694 +132 8 3 79[lower-alpha 1]
5 Dax 30 17 1 12 626 683 −57 5 2 77
6 Brive 30 16 1 13 689 583 +106 8 2 76
7 Nevers 30 15 0 15 682 610 +72 6 9 75
8 Mont-de-Marsan 30 15 1 14 766 641 +125 5 7 74
9 Aurillac 30 14 1 15 593 764 −171 3 3 64
10 Colomiers 30 13 1 16 661 657 +4 4 6 64
11 Valence Romans 30 13 0 17 623 640 −17 5 5 62
12 Soyaux Angoulême 30 13 2 15 563 616 −53 0 6 62
13 Agen 30 13 1 16 597 732 −135 2 5 61
14 Biarritz 30 11 0 19 618 811 −193 4 5 53
15 Montauban 30 11 0 19 577 755 −178 2 5 51 Relegation play-off
16 Rouen 30 9 1 20 604 753 −149 5 5 48 Relegation to Nationale
Updated to match(es) played on 12 January 2024. Source:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Competition points earned in head-to-head matches
  2. Points difference in head-to-head matches
  3. Try differential in head-to-head matches
  4. Points difference in all matches
  5. Try differential in all matches
  6. Points scored in all matches
  7. Tries scored in all matches
  8. Fewer matches forfeited
  9. Classification in the previous Top 14 season
    Notes:
  1. Following the decisions rendered by the Appeal Commission on July 6, 2023 and December 14, 2023 by the Disciplinary Council, a withdrawal of 12 points applies for FC Grenoble Rugby.The total sanction was reduced on appeal on 31 January 2024, recovering four points in the ranking.

Current squad
For player movements before or during the 2023–24 season, see List of 2022–23 Rugby Pro D2 transfers § Béziers.

The Béziers squad for the 2023–24 season is:[4][5]

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
Yvann Lalevée Hooker Franceé
José Luis González Hooker Argentina
Giorgi Akhaladze Prop Georgia
Filippo Alongi Prop Italy
Youssef Amrouni Prop France
Yannick Arroyo Prop France
Francisco Fernandes Prop Portugal
John-Henry Fincham Prop France
Luka Tchelidze Prop Georgia
Jon Zabala Prop Spain
Clément Bitz Lock France
Pierre Gayraud Lock France
John Madigan Lock Ireland
Hans N'Kinsi Lock France
Clément Ancely Back row France
Gillian Benoy Back row Belgium
Pierrick Gunther Back row France
Thomas Hoarau Back row France
Sias Koen Back row South Africa
Otunuku Pauta Back row Tonga
William Van Bost Back row Belgium
Player Position Union
Jean-Victor Goillot Scrum-half France
Samuel Marques Scrum-half Portugal
Mitch Short Scrum-half Australia
Victor Dreuille Fly-half France
Harry Glynn Fly-half England
Romain Uruty Fly-half France
Maxime Espeut Centre France
Branden Holder Centre France
Paul Réau Centre France
Paul Recor Centre France
Taleta Tupuola Centre New Zealand
Watisoni Votu Centre Fiji
Paul Alquier Wing France
Pierre Courtaud Wing France
Nicolas Plazy Wing France
Raffaele Storti Wing Portugal
Gabin Lorre Fullback France
Charly Malie Fullback France
Tim Nanai-Williams Fullback Samoa

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
Yanis Boulassel Hooker France
Julien Rasamoelina Prop France
Clément Samper Prop France
Matthys Louw Lock South Africa
Thomas Canaleta Back row France
Apisalome Kuruisaqila Back row Fiji
Antoine Payrastre Back row France
Joaquin Selma Back row France
Player Position Union
Leon Sanchis Scrum-half France
Sevuloni Lutu Centre Fiji
Arnaud Sola Centre France
Maxime Vacquier Centre France
Théo Vassallo Centre France
Maxime Mazzella Wing France
Tevita Boseiwaqa Fullback Fiji
Mathias Duchaux Fullback 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. "Effectif Pro". Association Sportive Béziers Hérault. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  5. "Béziers squad for season 2023/2024". All Rugby. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
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