Stade du Hameau

Stade du Hameau was built as a military stadium in order to accommodate the National Military Physical Training School that had to leave Paris at the beginning of WW2, at the initiative of Colonel de Fornel in 1948.

The inauguration took place after WW2, on 9 October 1949. René Lehmann, head of sports at L'Aurore estimated the stadium's capacity at 100,000 seats, describing the stadium as an "architectural marvel", drawing a parallel with the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, which was in desperate need of investment at the time.

Papa Gallo Thiam beat the French high jump record held by Georges Damitio that day with 1m99. The athletes Étienne Bally and Étienne Gailly were present, as well as André Mourlon who failed to better his record.

Colonel de Fornel died at the beginning of 1952 and the National Military Physical Training School was transferred to Antibes shortly afterwards.

In 1957, the stadium was renamed the Colonel de Fornel stadium, as an homage to its creator[4].

In October 2015, François Bayrou, president of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) and mayor of Pau, presented plans for a renovation project with work starting March 2016 for delivery in September 2017. The Auchan Stand, now the new Teréga East Stand, was completely reworked to increase capacity from 2900 to 5500 seats while a completely new stand was built on the Northwest side of the field.[5]

When finished, the stadium increased capacity from 14,000 to nearer 18,500, with the cost of the work estimated at €15m.[6][7][8] In 2020, Bayrou will build the final stand which would complete the enclosure. The structure's new capacity has yet to be revealed.[9]

On 22 February 2019, it hosted a Six Nations Under 20s Championship match between France and Scotland with France winning 42–27.[10]

The stadium's record attendance was recorded in 2017, when 18 324 spectators watched the Top 14 clash between Section and Union Bordeaux Bègles.

Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a new Tribune Ossau, which would raise the capacity to around 20,000[11].

The stadium has been described as one of the "most intimidating stadiums in world rugby"[12].

The first time I played for Leicester away in France was pretty bad. It was against Pau at the Stade du Hameau in 1996. The crowd were throwing stones and coins at us on the pitch, but the Leicester team at that time was so feisty, they actually would have liked to have got into the stands and had a fight with everyone. We eventually won 19-14. The other game that stands out for me was against Neath at the Gnoll. I very rarely played in Wales during my career - probably only 10 times in total - but I remember the game against Neath being particularly hostile, particularly when I scored a try under the posts. People were throwing all sorts at me.

— Austin Healey, The most intimidating stadiums in world rugby - as chosen by our experts

The stadium has known different names during its history. Inaugurated in 1949 as stade olympique du Hameau, the stadium was renamed Colonel de Fornel Stadium in honour of its creator in 1957[15].

However, the name Stade du Hameau is the most frequently used.

In 2009, the President of Section Paloise Bernard Pontneau and then-Mayor Martine Lignières-Cassou investigated the possibility to change the stadium's name to Robert-Paparemborde Stadium.

"I have only one wish, that this stadium will live up to the ambitions of the professional club and that its renovation will be completed by the emblematic name of Paparemborde. »

- Martine Lignières-Cassou