Elite 2 (rugby league)

Elite 2
SportRugby league
Founded2002
No. of teams9
CountryFrance
Most recent
champion(s)		Villefranche XIII Aveyron
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toSuper XIII
Relegation toNational Division 1
Domestic cup(s)Lord Derby Cup
Official websiteOfficial site

Elite 2 (formerly the Elite Two Championship) is the second tier semi-professional rugby league competition in France below Super XIII, but above the National Division 1. The regular season runs from September/October to April.[1][2] The clubs play each other home and away before entering into a series of play-off matches resulting in a Grand Final.[2] The winners can gain promotion to Super XIII providing they meet a minimum criteria. Occasionally the runners-up could be offered promotion. Promotion to Elite 2 from the National Divisions is also based on similar criteria.[3]

History

The Elite Two Championship was formed in 2002 when the French Rugby League Championship was split into two Elite One and Elite Two.

Teams for 2024–25 season

There are nine teams competing in the 2024–25 season.[2]

Teams participating in Elite 2 in the 2024–25 season
Teams participating in Elite 2 in the 2024–25 season located in Occitania region
Club Stadium Capacity City/Area
RC Carpentras XIII Stade de la Roseraie 5,000 Carpentras, Vaucluse
Ille-sur-Tet XIII Stade Jean Galia 2,000 Ille-sur-Tet, Pyrenees Orientales
RC Lescure-Arthes XIII Stade de Lescure d'Albigeois 2,000 Lescure-d'Albigeois, Tarn
Palau XIII Broncos Georges Vaills Stadium Palau-del-Vidre, Pyrénées-Orientales
Pamiers XIII Stade Magnagounet Pamiers, Ariège
Realmont XIII Stade Claude Andre Realmont, Tarn
RC Salon XIII Stade Marcel Roustan 2,000 Salon-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône
Tonneins XIII Stade Jean Bernège Tonneins, Lot-et-Garonne
Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII Stade Municipal Conques sur Orbiel 2,000 Villegailhenc, Aude

Past winners

Year Winner Score Runner Up Ref.
2002–03 Sainte-Livrade XIII 25 – 15 UTC 2 [4]
2003–04 RC Carpentras XIII 14 – 10 UTC 2 [4]
2004–05 Marseille XIII 12 – 10 RC Carpentras XIII [4]
2005–06 Le Barcarès XIII 25 – 19 Palau XIII Broncos [4]
2006–07 Gifi Bias XIII 16 – 14 Racing Club Albi XIII [4]
2007–08 Le Barcarès XIII 30 – 16 Montpellier Red Devils [4]
2008–09 AS Corbeil 30 – 14 RC Baho XIII [4]
2009–10 Palau XIII Broncos 18 – 12 Montpellier Red Devils [4]
2010–11 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII 12 – 0 RC Baho XIII [4]
2011–12 Palau XIII Broncos 34 – 17 Toulouse Jules-Julien XIII [5]
2012–13 Palau XIII Broncos 26 – 22 RC Baho XIII [6]
2013–14 RC Baho XIII 18 – 12 Racing Club Albi XIII [7]
2014–15 Racing Club Albi XIII 21 – 14 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII [8]
2015–16 La Reole XIII 20 – 16 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII [9]
2016–17 Villefranche XIII Aveyron 13 – 10 RC Baho XIII [10]
2017–18 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII 23 – 16 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII [11]
2018–19 RC Baho XIII 35 – 20 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII [12]
2019–20 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [4]
2020–21
2021–22 Baroudeurs de Pia XIII 15 – 14 RC Baho XIII [13]
2022–23 Ille-sur-Têt XIII 25 – 18 Villefranche XIII Aveyron [14]
2023–24 Villefranche XIII Aveyron 37 – 14 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII [15]
2024–25 Palau XIII Broncos 20 – 17 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII [16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "11 clubs to play in French Elite 2 Championship, Carcassonne sign Spanish International". Love Rugby League. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "The Elite 2 calendar season 2024-2025 with 9 teams". Treize Mondial. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Treiziste Diary: Status quo in Elite 1, but changes being made to French lower divisions". Total Rugby League. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "France Elite 2 Championship: Charts". Treize Mondial. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Palau sacré Champion de France" (in French). FFRXIII. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Palau champion de France du suspense" (in French). FFRXIII. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Les résultats du week-end" (in French). FFRXIII. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Une fête, une Coupe et un Planchot à Montpellier" (in French). FFRXIII. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Finale Elite 2 | La Réole XIII décroche le bouclier !" (in French). FFRXIII. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Elite 2 : le patient rouergat" (in French). FFRXIII. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Villegailhenc is French Elite 2 champion". Treize Mondial. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  12. ^ "In the chaos, Baho scored twice by beating Villegailhenc". Treize Mondial. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Pia Elite 2 champion with golden point against Baho". Treize Mondial. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Ille triumphed at the end of the match against Villefranche and won the Elite 2". Treize Mondial. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Villefranche wins the title in Elite 2 by defeating the VARL". Treize Mondial. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Palau crowned France Elite 2 champion after its victory against VARL". Treize Mondial. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  • Elite 2, French Rugby League Federation
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