Valence Romans Drôme Rugby
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| Full name | Valence Romans Drôme Rugby | |
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| Nickname(s) | VRDR Les Damiers (The Chequered Ones) | |
| Founded | 1908 | |
| Location | 4 rue Chevalier 26100 Romans-sur-Isère | |
| Ground(s) | Stade Marcel Guillermoz Stade Georges Pompidou (Capacity: 5,000 / 15,128) | |
| President | Jean-Louis Darlay | |
| Coach(es) | Cédric Chaubeau Christophe Espinas | |
| League | Pro D2 | |
| 2024–25 | 8th | |
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| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Valence Romans Drôme Rugby (formerly L’Union sportive romanaise and péageoise) is a French rugby union club based in Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme). For the 2023–24 season they will be playing in Pro D2, the second tier of the country's professional rugby system, having been promoted from Nationale.
History
L’US romanaise and péageoise was founded in 1908 as the sport association of two town on both side of the Isère, Romans-sur-Isère and Bourg-de-Péage. Le club was the formed by a lot of worker of Shoes's factory. After the Second World War, the club was promoted in Top 16 and reach two times the semifinals (1954 and 1955), and in 1969 reach again the quarter of finals. This defined US Romans as one of the strongest French club in the 70's. In 1976, the "Damiers" (nickname of the players) lost the quarter of final against the future champion, Agen, and 1977 lost the semifinals against Perpignan (6-9). For eight consecutive years, Romans will pass the first round of the Championship. A first relegation in "Groupe B" in 1988, was followed by a return in "Group A". in 1990. In 1992, the club was again relegated. In 1995 Romans lost the "Groupe B1" final against FC Lourdes (a stunning match closed 37–36). A lot of famous French player have played at USRP in the past: like Arnaldo Gruarin, Robert Soro and Philippe Saint-André.
Now the club play in Fédérale 1, the third level of French rugby union system, after some year in the lower Fédérale 2. In 2018-19 they were promoted from Fédérale 1 into Rugby Pro D2. They now are called Valence Romans Drôme Rugby.
Current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vannes | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 453 | 242 | +211 | 7 | 1 | 54 | Semi-final promotion playoff place |
| 2 | Valence Romans | 14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 424 | 380 | +44 | 3 | 0 | 47 | |
| 3 | Provence | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 422 | 317 | +105 | 5 | 4 | 45 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 4 | Colomiers | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 398 | 215 | +183 | 4 | 3 | 43 | |
| 5 | Oyonnax | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 411 | 310 | +101 | 3 | 4 | 39 | |
| 6 | Aurillac | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 370 | 392 | −22 | 2 | 2 | 36 | |
| 7 | Agen | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 341 | 342 | −1 | 5 | 1 | 34 | |
| 8 | Brive | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 385 | 312 | +73 | 4 | 0 | 34 | |
| 9 | Nevers | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 366 | 410 | −44 | 4 | 1 | 33 | |
| 10 | Soyaux Angoulême | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 263 | 353 | −90 | 0 | 2 | 30 | |
| 11 | Grenoble | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 351 | 362 | −11 | 2 | 2 | 28 | |
| 12 | Biarritz | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 353 | 422 | −69 | 4 | 0 | 21 | |
| 13 | Béziers | 14 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 339 | 418 | −79 | 3 | 1 | 20 | |
| 14 | Dax | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 334 | 303 | +31 | 3 | 3 | 16 | |
| 15 | Mont-de-Marsan | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 283 | 500 | −217 | 1 | 1 | 14 | Relegation play-off |
| 16 | Carcassonne | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 235 | 450 | −215 | 0 | 3 | 13 | Relegation to Nationale |
Current squad
The Valence squad for the 2025–26 season is:[1][2]
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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Espoirs squad
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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Achievements
- Championnat of France Première Division
- Semifinalist : 1954, 1955, 1977
- Quart of Final : 1976
- Eights of Finalist : 1978, 1981,
- 16th of Final : 1975, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986
- Championnat of France Première Division Groupe B1
- Finalist : 1995
- Championnat of France 2nd division série
- Finalist: 1959
- Championnat of France Reichel
- Winner : 1983
- Championnat of France Crabos
- Winner : 1974
- Championnat of France Cadet
- Finalist: 1998
- Winner : 1989
- Finalist : 1979
- Championnat of France Minimes
- Finalist : 1998
- Championnat of France Nationale B
- Finalist 2009
- Semifinalist 2010
- Semifinalist 2011
- Challenge Gaudermen (Cadets)
- Winner : 1989
- Semifinalist : 1979
Other competitions
- Winner of Challenge of l'Espérance (1) : 1956
- Finalist du Challenge of l'Espérance (1) : 1992
Famous players
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References
- ^ "Effectif". VRDR (in French). Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ "Valence Romans squad for season 2025/2026". all.rugby. Retrieved 2024-07-23.