FC Grenoble Rugby

FC Grenoble Rugby

Full name	Football Club de Grenoble Rugby
Nickname(s)	The foreign Legion (1954) The Mammoths (1991-1994) The Pacific Connection (1999)
Founded	1892 (1892)
Location	Grenoble, France
Ground	Stade des Alpes (Capacity: 20,068)
President	Patrick Goffi
Coach	Aubin Hueber
League	Pro D2
2024–25	1st
1st kit 2nd kit 3rd kit
Official website
fcgrugby.com

The Football Club de Grenoble Rugby (FCG) is a French rugby union club based in Grenoble and founded in 1892.

FC Grenoble won the French Championship in 1954 and finished runners-up in the 1993 championship after one of the most controversial finals in French rugby history, being denied the title following a refereeing error.¹

The club also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1987 and reached the final of the competition in 1969, 1986 and 1990.

FC Grenoble competed in the Top 14, the highest level of the French rugby union league system, during the 2019–20 season before being relegated to Pro D2 at the end of the campaign.

Grenoble has played its home matches at the Stade des Alpes since the 2014–15 season. The stadium has a capacity of 20,068 spectators. The club’s traditional colours are red and blue.

FC Grenoble is currently chaired by Patrick Goffi.

The club was founded in 1892 following the merger of the main sporting clubs in Grenoble, in the Rhône-Alpes region.

After becoming champions of the Alps in 1912, FCG reached the final of the Coupe de l'Espérance in 1918, a competition that temporarily replaced the French championship during the First World War.

Grenoble subsequently established itself as one of the leading clubs in French rugby and regularly appeared in national finals.

The club contributed several players to the early French national team, including Edmond Besset, Félix Lasserre and Edmond Vellat.

In 1931, Grenoble was one of fourteen clubs that left the French Rugby Federation to form their own organisation, the UFRA.

In 1954, the first team, coached by Roger Bouvarel, wrote one of the greatest chapters in the club’s history.

Nicknamed the Foreign Legion by the French press because of the international profile of several players, FC Grenoble won its first Bouclier de Brennus and became French champion after defeating U.S. Cognac 5–3 in the final.

With former player Jean Liénard becoming coach, Grenoble reached the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup FIRA in 1963, marking one of the club’s first major international achievements.

In 1969, Grenoble lost the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir against US Dax by 24–12.

In 1986, Grenoble again reached the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir, losing 22–15 to AS Montferrand.

In 1987, Grenoble won the Challenge Yves du Manoir after defeating SU Agen 26–7 in the final.

The victory represented the club’s second major national trophy.

In 1990, Grenoble lost the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir against RC Narbonne by 24–19.

The arrival of Jacques Fouroux alongside Michel Ringeval for the 1992–93 season marked the beginning of the famous era of the “Mammoths of Grenoble”.²

Built around one of the most powerful forward packs in French rugby, Grenoble eliminated Stade Toulousain in the quarter-finals (19–17) before defeating SU Agen in the semi-finals to reach the French championship final against Castres Olympique.³

Nicknamed the “Mammoths” because of their massive pack weighing more than 900 kg, Grenoble relied on a physical and dominant style of play led by players such as Olivier Merle, Olivier Brouzet, Grzegorz Kacała, Hervé Chaffardon and Džoni Mandić.⁴

The 1993 final, played at the Parc des Princes in Paris, remains one of the most controversial matches in French rugby history. Grenoble lost 14–11 to Castres after several disputed refereeing decisions.⁵

Early in the match, a try scored by Olivier Brouzet was disallowed for Grenoble.⁶

The decisive moment came in the second half when Grenoble scrum-half Franck Hueber appeared to ground the ball in his own in-goal area after collecting a high kick from Castres captain Francis Rui. New Zealand lock Gary Whetton then grounded the loose ball, and referee Daniel Salles awarded the try to Castres without consulting his touch judge.⁷

Photographs published after the match appeared to confirm that Hueber had grounded the ball first and that the try should not have been awarded.⁸ The refereeing error ultimately handed the championship title to Castres.⁹

Already in conflict with the French Rugby Federation before the final, Jacques Fouroux denounced what he believed to be a conspiracy against Grenoble.¹⁰¹¹

Thirteen years later, referee Daniel Salles publicly admitted that he had made a mistake during the final.¹²¹³

Since then, the club has experienced periods of instability and fluctuating results.

The club’s decline began during the 1999–2000 season. Despite signing international players such as Diego Albanese and Tony Stanger, Grenoble finished only 17th in the French championship. However, the club became the only team to defeat Northampton Saints during the 1999–2000 Heineken Cup, with the English side later winning the competition.¹⁴

During the 2000–01 season, the reduction of the top division from 21 to 16 clubs led to Grenoble’s relegation despite nine victories in twenty matches. The club lost a decisive play-off against Section Paloise 33–21 after extra time.¹⁵

Under coach Jacques Delmas, Grenoble immediately returned to the top division after finishing runners-up in Pro D2.

Young players Brian Liebenberg and Vincent Clerc emerged during this period and later became internationals.

Back in the elite during the 2002–03, Grenoble qualified for the play-offs after notable victories, including an away win against Montferrand.¹⁶

The club narrowly avoided relegation in 2003–04, with Jean-Victor Bertrand finishing as the league’s top try scorer. Despite the arrival of Sam Cordingley, Grenoble were relegated again at the end of the 2004–05 season.

Severe financial difficulties then struck the club, with debts estimated at €3.64 million.¹⁷

The Ligue nationale de rugby refused Grenoble’s participation in Pro D2, and the club was administratively relegated to Fédérale 1 in 2005.

Grenoble rebuilt around coaches Franck Corrihons and Jean-François Martin-Culet, relying heavily on academy players. The club spent only one season in the amateur ranks before earning promotion back to Pro D2 after defeating RC Nîmes in the Jean-Prat Trophy play-off.¹⁸

Club legend Jonathan Best also made his first-team debut during this period.¹⁹

Grenoble gradually improved in Pro D2, with future internationals such as Raphaël Lakafia emerging from the squad.

The arrival of former Stade Français player Fabrice Landreau as manager marked the beginning of a new project aimed at returning the club to the Top 14.

During the 2010–11 season, Grenoble narrowly missed promotion after losing to Union Bordeaux Bègles in the promotion semi-final.²⁰

During the 2011–12 season, Grenoble won the Pro D2 title and secured promotion back to the Top 14.²¹

Future international Jonathan Pélissié was one of the revelations of the season. Grenoble also began playing at the Stade des Alpes during this period.²²

Grenoble made an impressive return to the Top 14 and achieved notable victories over clubs such as Stade Toulousain and RC Toulon.²³²⁴

The club established itself in the top division while developing players such as Chris Farrell, Paul Willemse, Jonathan Wisniewski, Gio Aplon, Thomas Jolmès and Xavier Mignot.

During the 2015–16 season, Grenoble reached the semi-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup before losing to Harlequins.

Financial problems and poor results led to Grenoble’s relegation from the Top 14 in 2017 after a heavy defeat against ASM Clermont Auvergne.²⁵

Despite these difficulties, Grenoble’s academy was recognised as the best training centre in the Top 14 between 2014 and 2017.²⁶

Under coaches Stéphane Glas and Dewald Senekal, Grenoble quickly returned to the Top 14 after defeating Oyonnax 47–22 in the 2018 promotion play-off.

Players such as Killian Geraci, Étienne Fourcade and Ali Oz emerged during this successful period. The club’s Crabos junior side also won the French championship in 2018.²⁷

• French championship Top 14
  • Champions (1): 1954
  • Runners-up (1): 1993
• Coupe de l'Espérance
  • Runners-up (1): 1918
• Pro D2
  • Champions (2): 1951, 2012
  • Runners-up (5): 2002, 2018, 2023, 2024, 2025
• Challenge Yves du Manoir
  • Champions (1): 1987
  • Runners-up (3): 1969, 1986, 1990
• Access Match:
  • Champions (1): 2018
  • Runners-up (4): 2019, 2023, 2024, 2025
• European Champion Clubs' Cup FIRA
  • Runners-up (1): 1963

The squad for the 2025–26 season is:²⁸²⁹

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Aubin Hueber	FRA
Forwards Coach	Jérôme Villegas	FRA
Senior Coach	David Irazoqui	FRA
Defence Coach	Lionel Ringeval	FRA

• 
  Sergio Lanfranchi
• 
  Robbie Deans
• 
  Grzegorz Kacała
• 
  Ovidiu Tonița
• 
  Alipate Ratini
• 
  Chris Farrell
• 
  Sona Taumalolo
• 
  Deon Fourie

Vincent Clerc and Louis Bielle-Biarrey are among the symbols of Grenoble’s rugby development system.

• 
  Joseph Desclaux
• 
  Olivier Brouzet
• 
  Sylvain Marconnet
• 
  Fabrice Landreau
• 
  Vincent Clerc
• 
  Brian Liebenberg
• 
  Paul Willemse
• 
  Kilian Geraci
• 
  Louis Bielle-Biarrey
• 
  Régis Montagne