Football Club Auch Gers is a French rugby union club based in
Auch
Auch (; oc, label= Gascon, Aush ) is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Occitanie, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.
Geography
Localization
Hydrography
The Riv ...
in Midi-Pyrénées most recently playing in the promotion-eligible pool of Fédérale 1. In recent years, they have mainly bounced between the first-level Top 14 and Pro D2. In a five-year stretch between 2003 and 2004 and 2007–08, they were either promoted or relegated four times—promoted to the then-Top 16 as champions of Pro D2 in
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
, relegated in
2005
File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...
, promoted as Pro D2 champions again in
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
, and relegated as bottom finisher in
2008
File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...
. Founded in 1891, the club plays at Stade Jacques Fouroux (capacity 7,000); its players wear red and white.
Auch was founded in 1897. They were runners-up in the 2001 League Cup competition, losing to Montferrand (Clermont) in the final. In the 2000s they were playing in the second division on French rugby, and in the 2002–03 season they made the semi-finals toward promotion but were defeated by
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the Departments of ...
. However the following season they were promoted to the top league, defeating
Bayonne
Bayonne (; eu, Baiona ; oc, label= Gascon, Baiona ; es, Bayona) is a city in Southwestern France near the Spanish border. It is a commune and one of two subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine re ...
in the Pro D2 final.
However they were relegated back down to Pro D2 for the 2005–06 season. Nonetheless, they were also winners of the
European Shield
The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons) was a repechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup. As such, it formed Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition ...
, reprechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the
European Challenge Cup
The EPCR Challenge Cup is an annual rugby union competition organised by European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR). It is the second-tier competition for clubs based in European leagues behind the European Rugby Champions Cup. From its inception i ...
that season. They defeated English club Worcester in the final.
At the end of the 2013–2014 season, the club was relegated to the amateur Fédérale 1. At the close of 2016–2017, bankruptcy was declared. The professional club was dissolved after financial rescue efforts failed. The lower level teams and school will remain, with an eye toward eventual reconstitution of the flagship pro team. The B team won the 2017 Nationale B championship.
Rugby Pro D2
Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second tier of rugby union club competition division in France. It is operated by Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) which also runs the division directly above, the first division Top 14. Rugby Pro D2 was in ...
:
** Champions: 1947,
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...
,
2007
File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...
*
European Shield
The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons) was a repechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup. As such, it formed Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition ...
Sakiusa Matadigo
Sakiusa Masinivanua (Masi) Matadigo (born 8 August 1982) is a rugby union footballer who plays back row for Montpellier Hérault RC. He has been capped for the full Fiji national side, as well as representing Fiji at Sevens. Before moving to t ...
*
Fabien Barcella
Fabien Barcella (born 27 October 1983) Scrum.com is a French former professional
Franck Montanella
Franck Montanella (born 26 March 1982) is a French rugby union footballer. He played for FC Auch in the 2006-07 Pro Rugby D2, which Auch won. His usual position is as a prop. He was also included in France's mid-year Test squad for 2007 in the two ...
*
Mamuka Magrakvelidze
Mamuka Magrakvelidze (born 12 August 1977) is a Georgian rugby union player, currently playing in the French professional Pro D2, for the Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby club. He previously played for other French clubs, the Montpellier Hérault RC and th ...
*
Ruben Spachuck
Cristian Ruben Spachuck, commonly known as Ruben Spachuck (born 14 February 1981), is an Argentina, Argentine-born Portuguese rugby union footballer. He played as a prop.
He was one of the four C.F. Os Belenenses, Belenenses players at the 2007 R ...
*
Raphaël Bastide
Rafael Bastide Gutierrez also known as Raphaël Bastide (born 24 November 1977, in Bilbao)R ...
Francisco De La Fuente
Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name '' Franciscus''.
Nicknames
In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed " Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comunitatis'' (father o ...
*
Juan Murré
Juan Manuel Murré (born 21 March 1980) by itsrugby.co.uk is a former
Sergio Valdes
Sergio may refer to:
* Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio
* Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found
* ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass
* ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film
* ''S ...
Marcel Laurent
Marcel Laurent (6 June 1913 – 9 August 1994) was a French racing cyclist. He rode in the 1937 Tour de France
The 1937 Tour de France was the 31st edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 30 June to 25 July. It consisted of 20 sta ...
*
Henri Lazies
Henri is an Estonian, Finnish, French, German and Luxembourgish form of the masculine given name Henry.
People with this given name
; French noblemen
:'' See the 'List of rulers named Henry' for Kings of France named Henri.''
* Henri I de Montm ...
*
Antoine Bianco
Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin.
The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guiana, ...
*
Jean Le Droff
Jean may refer to:
People
* Jean (female given name)
* Jean (male given name)
* Jean (surname)
Fictional characters
* Jean Grey, a Marvel Comics character
* Jean Valjean, fictional character in novel ''Les Misérables'' and its adaptations
* Jean ...
*
Serge Marsolan
Serge Marsolan is a former French rugby league international after debuting in rugby union.
Career
He practiced rugby union in Lombez since 12 years, then at the club born from the merger of the Lombez and Samatan clubs. Later, he joined Auch a ...
Jacques Gratton
Jacques Gratton (born 29 November 1957) is a French former international rugby union player.
Born in Lectoure, Gratton was a flanker and played his early senior rugby with FC Auch.
Gratton joined SU Agen in 1981 and was a member of two Brennus S ...
*
Stéphane Graou
Stéphane Graou (born 1 May 1966) is a French former rugby union international.
Born in Auch, Graou was a prop and came through the youth system of hometown club FC Auch. He attained eight France national rugby union team, France caps in the early ...
*
Frédéric Torossian
Frédéric Torossian (born 15 May 1966) is a French former rugby union international.
Torossian, son of rugby coach Antranik Torossian, was born in Auch in southwestern France.
Capped once for France national rugby union team, France, Torossian w ...
*
Patrick Tabacco
Patrick Tabacco (born 23 April 1974) is a French rugby player.
A native of Toulouse, he has played for the US Colomiers (1997–2000), Stade Français Paris (2000–2004), Section Paloise (2004–2006) and Castres Olympique. He was a member of F ...
Christophe Porcu
Christophe Porcu (born 5 May 1971 in Mauvezin, Gers, France) is a French international rugby union player. He played as a Lock (rugby union), Lock for SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne, Agen and USA Perpignan. He started his career at SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne, ...
*
Jean-Baptiste Rué
Jean-Baptiste Rué (born 6 July 1974, in Boulogne-Billancourt, France) is a French rugby union player who plays Hooker (rugby union), hooker for SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne, SU Agen. He was playing when they lost the final of the Top 14 against Biarri ...
*
Arnaud Mignardi Arnaud Mignardi (born 1 November 1986 in Auch, France) is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Stade Montois in the Rugby Pro D2, Pro D2. He has previously played for CA Brive, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Biarritz Olympique and SU Agen ...
*
Franck Montanella
Franck Montanella (born 26 March 1982) is a French rugby union footballer. He played for FC Auch in the 2006-07 Pro Rugby D2, which Auch won. His usual position is as a prop. He was also included in France's mid-year Test squad for 2007 in the two ...
*
Fabien Barcella
Fabien Barcella (born 27 October 1983) Scrum.com is a French former professional
Antoine Dupont
Antoine Dupont (born 15 November 1996) is a French professional rugby union player. He currently plays at scrum half for Toulouse in the Top 14 and captains the France national team. In 2021, Dupont won World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year.
...
*
Anthony Jelonch
Anthony Jelonch (born 28 July 1996) is a French rugby union flanker and he currently plays for Toulouse.
International career
Jelonch was part of the French squad for the 2017 France rugby union tour of South Africa.
On 17 July 2021, in the fift ...
*
Gabriel Lacroix
Gabriel Lacroix (born 19 October 1993) is a former French rugby union player. His position was winger and he used to play for Stade Rochelais.
Club career
Born in Toulouse, he began his career with nearby club Toulouse in the Top 14 before moving ...
Grégory Alldritt
Grégory Alldritt (born 23 March 1997) is a French rugby union player, currently playing in the back row and mostly as a number eight, for Top 14 side La Rochelle.
His father, Terence, was born in Kenya to Irish and Danish parents and lived i ...
Further reading
* ''Mes saisons 1903–2003 : F.C. Auch : Auch en Gascogne et le rugby, cent ans d'amour-passion'', de
Roland Porterie
Roland (; frk, *Hrōþiland; lat-med, Hruodlandus or ''Rotholandus''; it, Orlando or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the ...
Rugby union in France
Rugby union in France is a popular team sport. Rugby union was first introduced in the early 1870s by British residents, which makes the country one of the few early exponents of the sport. Elite French clubs participate in the professional domes ...
References
External links
* FC Auch Gers Official website
{{Authority control
Auch
Auch (; oc, label= Gascon, Aush ) is a commune in southwestern France. Located in the region of Occitanie, it is the capital of the Gers department. Auch is the historical capital of Gascony.
Geography
Localization
Hydrography
The Riv ...