Elite One Championship

The Elite One Championship (French: Le Championnat de France Elite) is the top level rugby league competition in France. The season runs from September to April. The clubs play each other home and away then they enter into a play-off series culminating with a Grand Final.

Elite One Championship
Founded2002 (2002)
Country France
Number of teams10
Level on pyramid1
Promotion to League 1 (Via application to RFL)
Relegation toElite Two Championship
Domestic cup(s)Lord Derby Cup
Current championsSaint-Esteve Catalan (2019)
Most championshipsAS Carcassonne (11)
Websitesite
Current: Elite One Championship 2020–2021

History

The French Rugby League Championship began in 1934, the first one being the only one where it was won by the team finishing top of the table on points and not by a play-off series. The Elite One Championship was founded in 2002 after the French Rugby League Championship was split into two divisions. The format stayed the same with teams playing each other home and away, before a play-off series would determine the Champions. The club finishing bottom would not be automatically relegated, it would be dependent on whether the club finishing top of Elite Two Championship either wanted to be promoted or their facilities were up to standard.

Teams for 2020–21 season
Elite One Championship
Team Stadium Location
Albi Tigers Stadium Mazicou Albi, Tarn
SO Avignon Parc des Sports (Avignon) Avignon, Vaucluse
AS Carcassonne Stade Albert Domec Carcassonne, Aude
FC Lézignan Stade du Moulin Lézignan-Corbières, Aude
Limoux Grizzlies Stade de l'Aiguille Limoux, Aude
Palau Broncos Stade Georges Vaills Palau-del-Vidre, Pyrénées-Orientales
Saint-Estève Catalan Stade Municipal Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales
Saint-Gaudens Bears Stade Jules Ribet Saint-Gaudens, Haute-Garonne
Toulouse Olympique Broncos Stade des Minimes Toulouse, Haute-Garonne
Villenueve Stade Max Rousie Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Lot-et-Garonne

Map
Teams currently Participating in the Elite One

Results
For previous winners, see French Rugby League Championship.
YearWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueAttendance
2002–03 Villeneuve31–18 St GaudensStade des Sports Et de l'Amitie, Narbonne8,000
2003–04 St Gaudens14–10 Union Treiziste CatalanePerpignan7,500
2004–05 Union Treiziste Catalane66–16 ToulouseStade des Sports Et de l'Amitie, Narbonne5,000
2005–06 Pia21–18 ToulouseToulouse5,462
2006–07 Pia 20–16 LézignanStade Michel-Bendichou, Colomiers7,882
2007–08 Lézignan26–16 PiaStade de la Mediterranee, Béziers9,550
2008–09 Lézignan40–32 LimouxStade Albert Domec, Carcassonne11,263
2009–10 Lézignan32–22 PiaAltrad Stadium, Montpellier6,612
2010–11 Lézignan17–12 LimouxParc des Sports et de l'Amitie, Narbonne11,874
2011–12 Carcassonne26–20 Pia8,980
2012–13 Pia33–26 St Estève-CatalanStade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan6,732
2013–14 Toulouse38–12 Lézignan7,245
2014–15 Toulouse20–12 CarcassonneStade Michel-Bendichou, Colomiers5,800
2015–16 Limoux26–24 CarcassonneStadium Municipal d'Albi, Albi5,420
2016–17 Limoux24–22 LézignanParc des Sports et l,Amitie, Narbonne8,270
2017–18Avigon30–28 LimouxStadium Municipal d’Albi, Albi5,000
2018–19 St Estève-Catalan32–24 Carcassonne1,500
2019–20 Season was voided due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Winners
#ClubNo.Year(s)
1Lézignan Sangliers42007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
2Pia XIII32005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13
3Villeneuve Leopards22002, 2002–03
Toulouse Olympique2013–14, 2014–15
Limoux Grizzlies2015–16, 2016–17
6SO Avignon12017–18
Saint-Gaudens Bears2003–04
Union Treiziste Catalane2004–05
AS Carcassonne2011–12
Saint-Esteve XIII Catalan2018–19

See also

References
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