Marseille XIII Avenir
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| Club information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marseille XIII Avenir | ||
| Nickname(s) | Les Lions | ||
| Website | Website | ||
| Founded | 1946 | ||
| Current details | |||
| Ground(s) |
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| Chairman | Stephane Puggioni | ||
| Coach(s) | Christophe Quercia | ||
| Manager(s) | Eric Dravet | ||
| Competition | National Division 1 | ||
| 2015/16 | 7th | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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Marseille XIII Avenir are a French Rugby League club based in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The club plays in the French National Division 1. Founded originally in 1946 and then re-founded in 2007, the club plays its matches at the Stade Roger Couderc. In addition to the open age team, the club also has a women's team and a thriving junior section.
History
Marseille XIII
When Marseille XIII were formed in 1946 on the restart of Rugby League after its banning by the French Vichy Government during the Second World War nobody expected them to have such a great start to life as a Rugby League club, but they certainly did. By the end of the 1950s their golden period they had played in four French Rugby League Championship finals and contested four Lord Derby Cup finals. Season 1947/48 brought them their first trophy, when they reached the final of the cup and beat favourites AS Carcassonne 5–4. The following season saw them retain the cup by beating AS Carcassonne again, this time 12–9 in front of a crowd of 24,000 at their own home ground the Stade Velodrome better still they then went and completed a league and cup double when they beat AS Carcassonne in the league final 12–5. Over the next five years they were runners-up in the league three times, in 1949/50 they lost to rivals AS Carcassonne 7-21 and in 1951/52 they lost to the same opponents, this time going down 6–18. Bordeaux XIII beat them 7–4 in 1954 and the next season saw them lose in the cup final 10–18 to SO Avignon. Their wait for a trophy ended in 1957 when they lifted the cup for a third time beating XIII Catalan 11–0. At the start of the year Marseille had played host to the touring Australian's losing 7–37. Another cup triumph in 1965 against AS Carcassonne 13–8, was the clubs only finals appearance of the 1960s a decade that had begun with the club once again hosting Australia. The clubs first trophy of the 1970s was won in 1971 when FC Lezignan were beaten in the cup 17–2. In season 1972/73 Marseille reached the league final but were beaten 0–18 against Toulouse Olympique and in 1975 they lost the cup final to Pia XIII 4–9. There then followed some barren and bleak times and during the early 1990s the club suffered relegation for the first time after getting into financial trouble. The club spent a decade in the second tier until in 2005 they regained their top flight place back after beating RC Carpentras XIII 12–10. Unfortunately during the following season more financial woes took hold and the club Marseille XIII were declared bankrupt and wound up.[1]
Marseille XIII Avenir
Born out of the ashes of the original club, Avenir were forced to start the following season, 2007/08, in the 3rd tier of French rugby league, the National Division 1. Since the reformation the clubs juniors have been crowned champions in 2009 and the women's team after finishing runner-up in 2011 lifted the title in 2012.
Stadium
The Stade Velodrome was the clubs first home ground at the time of use it had a 25,000 capacity. Other stadiums in Marseille that have been used are the Stade Louis Camelio a rugby stadium, the Stade La Martine opened in 1964, which now hosts football club Marseille Consolat and their present home the Stade Roger Couderc which was opened in 1946 and has been used by Avenir since 2007.[2]
Marseille v Australia
| Date | Teams | Score | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 January 1957 | Marseille v Australia | 7-37 | Stade Velodrome | 2,938 |
| 7 January 1960 | Marseille v Australia | 7-38 | Stade Velodrome | 1,366 |
Notable players
- Jean Dop
- Younes Khattabi
- Jacky Merquey
- Andre Ferren
- Elie Brousse
- Francois Rinaldi
Honours
- French Rugby League Championship (Elite One) (1): 1948-49
- Lord Derby Cup (5): 1948, 1949, 1957, 1965, 1971
- Elite Two Championship (1): 2004-05
References
External links
| Federation | |
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| National Team | |
| Club Competitions | |
| Super League Teams | |
| Championship Teams | |
| Elite One Championship | |
| Elite Two Championship | |
| Seasons | |
