Villeneuve XIII RLLG originally called Sports Athletic Villeneuvois XIII are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Villeneuve-sur-Lot in the region of Aquitaine in southern France. Formed in 1934, the first French rugby league club, they currently play in the Elite One Championship the highest level of rugby league in France. They have won both the league title and the cup on nine occasions. Their home stadium is the Stade Max Rousie.
Sports Athletic Villeneuvois XIII were founded during the last two weeks of May 1934 by French rugby league pioneer Jean Galia who went on to be the club's first coach/captain and backed by the mayor. Villeneuve quickly went on to become a rugby league stronghold. The new club picked up some players from the local rugby club CA Villeneuve including Ernest Camo, Jean Barres, Jean Rabot and Max Rousie and others from Perpignan like Aimé Bardes, Martin Serre, Jean Daffis and François Noguères in readiness for the first French rugby league championship.[1]SA Villeneuve were the first club to become a member of the Ligue Française de Rugby à 13 (LFR.13) on 2 June 1934. Villeneuve remain as the oldest rugby league club in France, they became the first French club side to tour England in September 1934. On that tour they played against Warrington, Broughton Rangers, Hull FC, Yorkshire XIII, Oldham, and Leeds. Max Rousie starred for the tourists scoring 76 of their 117 points.[2] The club then hosted both a touring Yorkshire XIII and then Salford RLFC.
Villeneuve began the inaugural French Rugby League Championship in 1934 by beating XIII Catalan 48-25 at the Pont-de-Marot they would go on and win the first championship by finishing top of the table. At the end of the season they took on the English rugby league champions Swinton going down 25-27 in front of a crowd of 15,000. Having lost the 1936 Lord Derby Cup Final they made amends in 1937 by defeating XIII Catalan 12-6. At the outbreak of war and the German invasion of France, Rugby League under the Vichy Government was banned. Villeneuve were forced to play rugby union under a new club name Union Sportive Villeneuve XV. Towards the end of the Second World War rugby league was re-established and rugby league returned to Villeneuve under a new name Union Sportive Villeneuve XIII. The reborn club met AS Carcassonne at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 4 February 1945 in an exhibition match, the first rugby league game played in France after the war.
Villeneuve became national champions again in 1959, 1964 and twice more in the early 1980s. They also lifted the Lord Derby Cup in 1958, 1964, 1979 and 1984. In 1998 the club added the nickname "Les léopards d'Aquitaine", The Leopards of Aquitaine. Also in this year rugby union's bad treatment of rugby league reared its ugly head again. Villeneuve were preparing for an evening match to be screened live on national television at SU Agen Rugby Club when the union authorities refused to let Agen host the game thus the game had to be cancelled.[3]
Villeneuve experienced a glorious era from 1996 to 2003, appearing in every league championship Grand Final bar one. They won five championships in eight years culminating in their 31-18 victory over St. Gaudens in 2003. Villeneuve played in four Lord Derby Cup finals in this period and won every one. In seasons 1999, 2002 and 2003 they completed the league and cup double. The 1999 double winning team was inspired by former Australian captain Paul Sironen. The 2002 and 2003 double seasons were done under the coaching of Jean Luc Albert. At this time the club was the strongest in the league and could call upon some of the best French internationals in Laurent Carrasco, Laurent Frayssinous, Vincent Wulf, Romain Sort, David Despin and Frederic Banquet as well as experienced oversea stars like Paul Sironen and former New Zealand captain Quentin Pongia During this period they also became the first French club to reach the quarter-finals of the prestigious Rugby League Challenge Cup in 2001. After beating Simms Cross ARLFC, York Wasps and Rochdale Hornets they eventually went out to Super League side Warrington Wolves. They were also crowned European champions in 1998 when they lifted the Treize Tournoi beating Lancashire Lynx in the final.
In 2005 the club went bankrupt but a new club was quickly formed named Villeneuve XIII Rugby League and thus retaining their place in the top flight. The Léopards made history in 2005 when they signed the Russian international halfback, Ouchillikos Novel. He was signed after an impressive performance in the defeat to France in the 2005 European Nations Cup. In 2015 the club faced closure again but after starting a 'Help save Villeneuve XIII' supporters around the world and business's made donations and saved the club from extinction. For the following season the club adopted its new name Villeneuve XIII RLLG
The club continues to run successful academy sides, begun in the 1930s, and now runs both ladies and girls teams.
Challenge Cupedit
As one of the more dominant sides in the French competition, when the RFL in England began inviting overseas teams to compete in the Challenge CupVilleneuve were one of the first clubs to enter. In 2000 they arrived with a bang when they won 16-14 at Keighley Cougars before going on to lose to Dewsbury Rams. The following season they eclipsed this when they reached the quarter-finals, becoming the first overseas team to do so. After despatching amateurs Simms Cross they then accounted for York Wasps and Rochdale Hornets before bowing out to Warrington Wolves 0-32. The next campaign saw them once again beat York Wasps before losing to Doncaster. Their last outing came the following season where they went out at the first attempt away at Featherstone Rovers to a last minute try.
2000edit
All away games *
13 February v Keighley Cougars 16-14
27 February v Dewsbury Rams 10-35
2001edit
26 January v Simms Cross ARLFC 42-10
11 February v York Wasps 22-8
25 February v Rochdale Hornets 26-19
11 March v Warrington Wolves 0-32
2002edit
10 February v York Wasps 17-8
24 February v Doncaster RLFC 16-24
2003edit
? January v Featherstone Rovers 22-26
Villeneuve v Australiaedit
Date
Score
Attendance
29 January 1938
3-26
18,000
21 December 1952
11-18
2,262
24 December 1959
5-11
1,458
Colours and Badgeedit
The club have always played in green and white. The nickname Leopards was adopted in 1998
Stadiumedit
From 1900 to 1955 the rugby club played at Pont-de-Marot. In 1955 their current stadium was built originally called Myre Mory Stadium named after a soldier killed in 1940 and located on the left bank of the river Lot near the Lycee Georges Leygues. In 2011 the stadium renamed Stade Max Rousie after the famous former France and Villeneuve rugby league footballer. A multi sports venue that hosts along with rugby league, football, athletics and tennis. The ground has floodlights as well as two training pitches. The current capacity is 5,000 with 1.434 seats.
Maurice Brunetaud and Henri Durand are members of the very small group of French rugby players who were Internationals before and after WWII and Rugby League's banishment by Vichy (Oct. 1940 to Sept.1944).
^"Léopards d'Aquitaine 🐆🟢⚪️ (@leopardsdaquitaine) • Instagram photos and videos".
External linksedit
(in French) Official website
(in French) Club forum
December 20, 2023
villeneuve, xiii, rllg, originally, called, sports, athletic, villeneuvois, xiii, semi, professional, rugby, league, team, based, villeneuve, region, aquitaine, southern, france, formed, 1934, first, french, rugby, league, club, they, currently, play, elite, c. Villeneuve XIII RLLG originally called Sports Athletic Villeneuvois XIII are a semi professional rugby league team based in Villeneuve sur Lot in the region of Aquitaine in southern France Formed in 1934 the first French rugby league club they currently play in the Elite One Championship the highest level of rugby league in France They have won both the league title and the cup on nine occasions Their home stadium is the Stade Max Rousie Villeneuve XIII RLLGClub informationFull nameVilleneuve XIII RLLGNickname s LeopardsColoursGreen and WhiteFounded1934 89 years ago 1934 WebsitesiteCurrent detailsGround s Stade Max Rousie 5 000 CoachFabien DevecchiManagerMichael LavilleCompetitionElite One Championship2017 189thUniformsHome colours Contents 1 History 2 Challenge Cup 2 1 2000 2 2 2001 2 3 2002 2 4 2003 3 Villeneuve v Australia 4 Colours and Badge 5 Stadium 6 Current squad 7 Honours 8 International Players 8 1 French or assimilated 8 1 1 SA Villeneuve XIII 8 1 2 US Villeneuve XIII 8 1 3 Villeneuve XIII RL 8 2 Foreigners 8 3 Note 9 Coaches 10 Presidents 11 Famous players coaches presidents 12 References 13 External linksHistory editSports Athletic Villeneuvois XIII were founded during the last two weeks of May 1934 by French rugby league pioneer Jean Galia who went on to be the club s first coach captain and backed by the mayor Villeneuve quickly went on to become a rugby league stronghold The new club picked up some players from the local rugby club CA Villeneuve including Ernest Camo Jean Barres Jean Rabot and Max Rousie and others from Perpignan like Aime Bardes Martin Serre Jean Daffis and Francois Nogueres in readiness for the first French rugby league championship 1 SA Villeneuve were the first club to become a member of the Ligue Francaise de Rugby a 13 LFR 13 on 2 June 1934 Villeneuve remain as the oldest rugby league club in France they became the first French club side to tour England in September 1934 On that tour they played against Warrington Broughton Rangers Hull FC Yorkshire XIII Oldham and Leeds Max Rousie starred for the tourists scoring 76 of their 117 points 2 The club then hosted both a touring Yorkshire XIII and then Salford RLFC Villeneuve began the inaugural French Rugby League Championship in 1934 by beating XIII Catalan 48 25 at the Pont de Marot they would go on and win the first championship by finishing top of the table At the end of the season they took on the English rugby league champions Swinton going down 25 27 in front of a crowd of 15 000 Having lost the 1936 Lord Derby Cup Final they made amends in 1937 by defeating XIII Catalan 12 6 At the outbreak of war and the German invasion of France Rugby League under the Vichy Government was banned Villeneuve were forced to play rugby union under a new club name Union Sportive Villeneuve XV Towards the end of the Second World War rugby league was re established and rugby league returned to Villeneuve under a new name Union Sportive Villeneuve XIII The reborn club met AS Carcassonne at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 4 February 1945 in an exhibition match the first rugby league game played in France after the war Villeneuve became national champions again in 1959 1964 and twice more in the early 1980s They also lifted the Lord Derby Cup in 1958 1964 1979 and 1984 In 1998 the club added the nickname Les leopards d Aquitaine The Leopards of Aquitaine Also in this year rugby union s bad treatment of rugby league reared its ugly head again Villeneuve were preparing for an evening match to be screened live on national television at SU Agen Rugby Club when the union authorities refused to let Agen host the game thus the game had to be cancelled 3 Villeneuve experienced a glorious era from 1996 to 2003 appearing in every league championship Grand Final bar one They won five championships in eight years culminating in their 31 18 victory over St Gaudens in 2003 Villeneuve played in four Lord Derby Cup finals in this period and won every one In seasons 1999 2002 and 2003 they completed the league and cup double The 1999 double winning team was inspired by former Australian captain Paul Sironen The 2002 and 2003 double seasons were done under the coaching of Jean Luc Albert At this time the club was the strongest in the league and could call upon some of the best French internationals in Laurent Carrasco Laurent Frayssinous Vincent Wulf Romain Sort David Despin and Frederic Banquet as well as experienced oversea stars like Paul Sironen and former New Zealand captain Quentin Pongia During this period they also became the first French club to reach the quarter finals of the prestigious Rugby League Challenge Cup in 2001 After beating Simms Cross ARLFC York Wasps and Rochdale Hornets they eventually went out to Super League side Warrington Wolves They were also crowned European champions in 1998 when they lifted the Treize Tournoi beating Lancashire Lynx in the final In 2005 the club went bankrupt but a new club was quickly formed named Villeneuve XIII Rugby League and thus retaining their place in the top flight The Leopards made history in 2005 when they signed the Russian international halfback Ouchillikos Novel He was signed after an impressive performance in the defeat to France in the 2005 European Nations Cup In 2015 the club faced closure again but after starting a Help save Villeneuve XIII supporters around the world and business s made donations and saved the club from extinction For the following season the club adopted its new name Villeneuve XIII RLLGThe club continues to run successful academy sides begun in the 1930s and now runs both ladies and girls teams Challenge Cup editAs one of the more dominant sides in the French competition when the RFL in England began inviting overseas teams to compete in the Challenge Cup Villeneuve were one of the first clubs to enter In 2000 they arrived with a bang when they won 16 14 at Keighley Cougars before going on to lose to Dewsbury Rams The following season they eclipsed this when they reached the quarter finals becoming the first overseas team to do so After despatching amateurs Simms Cross they then accounted for York Wasps and Rochdale Hornets before bowing out to Warrington Wolves 0 32 The next campaign saw them once again beat York Wasps before losing to Doncaster Their last outing came the following season where they went out at the first attempt away at Featherstone Rovers to a last minute try 2000 edit All away games 13 February v Keighley Cougars 16 14 27 February v Dewsbury Rams 10 352001 edit 26 January v Simms Cross ARLFC 42 10 11 February v York Wasps 22 8 25 February v Rochdale Hornets 26 19 11 March v Warrington Wolves 0 322002 edit 10 February v York Wasps 17 8 24 February v Doncaster RLFC 16 242003 edit January v Featherstone Rovers 22 26Villeneuve v Australia editDate Score Attendance29 January 1938 3 26 18 00021 December 1952 11 18 2 26224 December 1959 5 11 1 458Colours and Badge editThe club have always played in green and white The nickname Leopards was adopted in 1998Stadium editFrom 1900 to 1955 the rugby club played at Pont de Marot In 1955 their current stadium was built originally called Myre Mory Stadium named after a soldier killed in 1940 and located on the left bank of the river Lot near the Lycee Georges Leygues In 2011 the stadium renamed Stade Max Rousie after the famous former France and Villeneuve rugby league footballer A multi sports venue that hosts along with rugby league football athletics and tennis The ground has floodlights as well as two training pitches The current capacity is 5 000 with 1 434 seats Current squad editSquad for 2022 23 Season 4 Villeneuve Elite 1 SquadFullbacks nbsp Thomas LasvenesWingers nbsp Mike Melhout nbsp Hamza Bachoukh nbsp nbsp Farid Nicolas nbsp Jo WambergueCentres nbsp Dorian Brioux nbsp James Tuitahi nbsp Baptiste Dubertrand nbsp Gavin MargueriteStandoffs Five eighths nbsp Mourad KriouacheHalfbacks Props nbsp Casey Dickson 5 nbsp Vladica Nikolic nbsp Geoffrey Zava nbsp Lasarusa TabuHookers nbsp Damien Gautier nbsp William Ousty nbsp Curtis DaviesSecond rowers nbsp Constantine Mika nbsp Lucas Vergniol nbsp Houccine FakirLocks Loose forwards nbsp Eddy PettybourneHonours editElite One Championship 9 1934 35 1958 59 1963 64 1979 80 1995 96 1998 99 2000 01 2001 02 2002 03 Lord Derby Cup 9 1937 1958 1964 1979 1984 1999 2000 2002 2003 Treize Tournoi 1 1998 Junior League Trophy 12 1936 37 1937 38 1938 39 1939 40 1945 46 1959 60 1979 80 1988 89 1989 90 1998 99 1999 2000 2000 01 Junior Cup Trophy 6 1960 1961 1977 1978 1989 1990International Players editFrench or assimilated edit SA Villeneuve XIII edit Sylvain Bes Andre Brinsolles Maurice Brunetaud Baptiste Carbo Etienne Cougnenc Jean Daffis Henri Marcel Delhommeau Henri Durand Jean Galia Marius Guiral Maurice Porra Max Rousie Henri SanzUS Villeneuve XIII edit Guy Augey Bertrand Ballouhey Frederic Banquet Paul Bartoletti Angelo Boldini Regis Brioux Maurice Brunetaud Gaston Calixte Laurent Carrasco Andre Carrere Max Chantal Christian Clar Jean Pierre Clar David Collado Gilles Cornut Etienne Courtine Gerard Cremoux David Despin Fabien Devecchi Jacques Dubon Pascal Eito Roger Estrada Jamal Fakir Jean Foussat Laurent Fraysssinous Romain Gagliazzo Roger Garnung Antoine Geronazzo Gabriel Genoud Antoine Gonzalez Jacques Gruppi Raymond Gruppi Didier Hermet Jerome Hermet Antoine Jimenez Andre Lacaze Pascal Laroche Michel Laville Ode Lespes Christian Maccali Jean Pierre Magagnin Robert Majorel Alain Maury Michel Mazare Jacques Merquey Jean Panno Daniel Pellerin Bertrand Plante Jean Plante Julien Rinaldi Joel Roosebrouck Christian Sabatie Pierre Sabatie Artie Shead Romain Sort Ernest Tarozzi Yves Treilhes Mickael Van Snick Daniel Verdes Patrick Wozniack Vincent Wulf Charles ZalduendoVilleneuve XIII RL edit Laurent Carrasco Olivier Charles Jerome Hermet Ernest Camo Serge Cuyas Leo Murari Ovide Nogaro Fernand VigourouxForeigners edit USV 13 Mark Bourneville New Zealand Paul Sironen Australia Shaun Austerfield England Grant Doorey Australia Dragan Durdevic Australia Jason Webber Australia Brock Mueller Australia Chad Dillinger Australia Quentin Pongia New Zealand Artie Shead New Zealand Phillip Shead New Zealand Tim Ryan Australia Steven Plath Australia Note edit Maurice Brunetaud and Henri Durand are members of the very small group of French rugby players who were Internationals before and after WWII and Rugby League s banishment by Vichy Oct 1940 to Sept 1944 Coaches edit1934 36 Jean Galia 1937 40 R Griffoul 1940 45 J Barres J Daffis 1946 50 R Manieu 1950 53 B Carbo 1956 57 Antoine Jimenez 1957 58 R Estrada 1958 62 R Manieu 1962 66 Jep Lacoste 1967 68 R Manieu 1968 70 O Nogaro 1970 72 M Monclus 1973 76 Jep Lacoste 1976 78 E Courtine O Nogaro Jean Pierre Clar 1978 82 Raymond Gruppi 1982 84 B Ballouhey J Balleroy 1985 86 Jacques Gruppi 1988 89 Michel Mazare 1988 90 S Cuyas M Wakefield 1990 91 M Wakefield 1991 92 M Wakefield A Lopes 1992 94 A Lopes 1994 95 K Taylor JP Goguet 1995 98 D Ellis 1998 00 G Doorey David Despin 2001 03 JL Albert 2003 04 Brad Davis John Ackland David Despin 2004 05 David Despin B Plante 2005 06 B Plante P Hollovoet 2006 07 P Hollovoet amp Vincent Wulf 21 Fabien Devecchi 2021 Eddy Pettybourne 2021 Olivier JanzacPresidents edit1934 37 G Bordeneuve 1937 41 Dr L Vinson 1941 45 G Prady USV XV 1945 53 Drs L Vinson et P Mourgues 1953 61 Me J Maury 1961 62 R Bagilet J Bouyssonnie 1962 65 A Escande 1965 73 G Mares 1973 74 E Benguigui 1974 78 Dr F Derieux 1978 88 Dr F Mourgues 1988 89 J Dachary 1989 90 P Conduche C Succarat C Amadieu 1990 92 M Benet 1992 93 C Gabrielli 1993 94 Dr M Dupuet 1994 99 E Courtine G Troupel 1999 00 G Troupel P Soubiran 2000 03 P Soubiran 2003 04 Mme J Lombard 2004 05 Dr M Pierre 2005 06 Dr M Pierre F Didier J Balleroy 2006 07 F Didier JM BarjourFamous players coaches presidents edit nbsp Jean Luc Albert coach nbsp Frederic Banquet nbsp Paul Bartoletti nbsp Angelo Boldini nbsp G Bordeneuve president nbsp Maurice Brunetaud nbsp Gaston Calixte nbsp Laurent Carrasco nbsp Andre Carrere nbsp Max Chantal nbsp Jean Pierre Clar nbsp Etienne Courtine player amp president nbsp Serge Cuyas nbsp David Despin nbsp Jacques Dubon nbsp Henri Durand nbsp Pascal Eito nbsp David Ellis coach nbsp Roger Estrada nbsp Jamal Fakir nbsp Laurent Frayssinous nbsp Jean Galia player amp coach nbsp Roger Garnung nbsp Antoine Gonzalez nbsp Jacques Gruppi amp Raymond Gruppi nbsp Marius Guiral nbsp Didier Hermet nbsp Antoine Jimenez nbsp Andre Lacaze nbsp Jep Lacoste coach nbsp Christian Maccali nbsp Raoul Manieu coach nbsp G Mares president nbsp Me J Maury president nbsp Michel Mazare nbsp Jacques Merquey nbsp Dr P Mourgues president nbsp Dr F Mourgues president nbsp Leo Murari nbsp Ovide Nogaro nbsp Jean Pano nbsp Daniel Pelerin nbsp Maurice Porra nbsp Julien Rinaldi nbsp Joel Roosebrouck nbsp Max Rousie nbsp Christian Sabatie nbsp Paul Sironen 1 nbsp P Soubiran president nbsp Ernest Tarozzi nbsp G Troupel president nbsp Daniel Verdes nbsp Dr L Vinson president nbsp Vincent WulfReferences edit Rylance Mike 1999 The Forbidden Game League Publications LTD p 78 ISBN 9781901347258 Rylance Mike 1999 The Forbidden Game League Publications LTD p 79 ISBN 9781901347258 Rylance Mike 1999 The Forbidden Game League Puplications LTD p 195 ISBN 9781901347258 Villeneuve Elite 1 squad Treize Mondial Leopards d Aquitaine leopardsdaquitaine Instagram photos and videos External links edit in French Official website in French Club forum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Villeneuve XIII RLLG amp oldid 1185709043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
