en.catalansdragons.com/index.php ... =b_reserve Domestic league starts this weekend with a nice looking local derby before a tough home match with Villeneuve. The official site has been a bit slow keeping up to date in the past, so I am not sure if this link (or of course www.sang-et-or.net) will be able to do better www.goldrugby.com/hexagone/elite ... byXIII.htm

en.catalansdragons.com/index.php ... =b_reserve Domestic league starts this weekend with a nice looking local derby before a tough home match with Villeneuve. The official site has been a bit slow keeping up to date in the past, so I am not sure if this link (or of course www.sang-et-or.net) will be able to do better www.goldrugby.com/hexagone/elite ... byXIII.htm

And two days before the start of the season, St. Gaudens have dropped out and asked to be included in Elite 1 instead. Probably for the best, but it means the fixtures for both top divisions need to be re-jigged at short notice.

I thought St Gaudens were already in Elite 1, haven't they just signed Stuart Reardon?

Wow, a thread about domestic French rugby league and we have a post from both Peterborough and Cambridge...



...expansionism is working

Oops - typo removed all sense from my post. St. Go have dropped into Elite 2 - due (they say) to the weakness of the squad rather than finance reasons. They don't have 17 players to put on the pitch, right now. Hopefully they can redo the fixtures in a way which doesn't have teams travelling long distances for games on the weekend of Dec24/25.

I thought they were just opting out of the first match,because certain members of the squad hadn't yet arrived from down under ?

anyway - you heard it here first - Clint Greenshields isn't available to play for France in the autumn internationals - he wants 'to rest' and get ready for next season

No - see FFR website - they've dropped down a division. Hasty re-arrangement of entire fixture list, budget etc.

With the two leagues originally both having 11 clubs, there was a bye in each round. Seems to me that the Elite 2 team which had a bye each week could play St. Gaudens instead and minimize disruption to the other fixtures. Absolute nightmare for the other clubs, though. Elite 2 clubs already have horrendous travel expenses with 3 teams in provence, plus lyon, paris, plus teams all over the south-west. Corbeil v St. Gaudens must be a 20 hr round trip.

yes John,typical ffr13 organisation - they really do make life difficult sometimes ........

just when we thought the RFL was bad ?

Not sure the FFR13 can take too much of the blame here - as the press release says - St. Gaudens gave assurances back in June that things would be OK. Ironic thing is that St Gaudens president (Jean-Alain Rives) was formerly in charge of the LER and acquired something of a reputation for lecturing others on how to run their clubs -he made all of the clubs have an associated limited company. Trouble seems to have followed them the last couple of years - M. Rives & others suspended for entering the dressing room and arguing with the ref, failing to travel to Lyon under dubious circumstances etc.

From the FFR website, St. Go refused entry in Elite 2 - other clubs citing problems with the extra fixtures, travel cost and so on. They've been asked to reconsider whether they really want to drop out of Elite 1 - implication being that they might have to sit out the year, or drop right down to federal division. The federation also considering suspending M. Rives & other officials. Fairly stern public rebuke from the FFR - calling the club reckless and casual. Decision due today on where they go next.

Of the games that did go ahead, Pia won the derby against St.Esteve/UTC, Avignon beat Carcassonne, Lezignan beat Lescure, Villeneuve won at Montpellier. Some decent crowds reported in the press, 1500 at Avignon, 1400 at Pia. Most interesting result from the 2nd division was at relegated Carpentras, who were thrashed at home by newly promoted Tonneins.

Couldn't find the results anywhere? can anyone help?

Quote ="Jimmythecuckoo"Couldn't find the results anywhere? can anyone help?'" www.ffr13.fr/index.php/competiti ... cle&id=776

Quote ="Jimmythecuckoo"Couldn't find the results anywhere? can anyone help?'" www.ffr13.fr/index.php/competiti ... cle&id=776

Pia win the derby then... well done them.

good first win for Brendan Worth for Villeneuve - interesting half back line with Bromley & Villegas

St. Gaudens last night again refused to compete in Elite1 and re-stated their wish to go into Elite2 - and pointed out that they would lose most of their funding if they dropped down any lower. Also threatening legal action as a possibility (taking the situation to the national olympic committee/ministry of sport). I don't see how the FFR can back down here. St. Go are really making things look farcical - no wonder the sport has struggled for the past 20-30 years with people like this in charge. But it would be a real shame to lose another place that has been a stronghold of the game.

He's signed for Carcassonne - should make his debut against Limoux at the weekend.

I wonder why the solution of the other nearby teams loaning a player or two to St. Gaudens for the next couple of months hasn't been talked about?

Yes indeed Sanj. Did BW play or is he still on the mend? Now that Tonneins are their reserve team, they have very useful backup when needed. I watched them win the final last season & was pleasantly surprised by their standard of play. They look like a well coached side & without any etrangers also.

yeh,Tonneins are a great set-up and the future looks bright for them

regarding Brendan,he is about four weeks away from playing again - he's training well but not overdoing it, which is wise

also spoke to Nathan at FCL who is hoping to get back for the next game following a hamstring injury - Jye may play but has an ankle problem which may require surgery,he should know soon if he requires surgery or not - he may also be available for the next game

Confirmed by fffr13 & St. Gaudens that the club won't be running a senior team in any division this season. Both parties looking for a way for them to re-enter at some level next season and to save the club's juniors - who've won national titles at different age groups in both 2011 and 2010. Crazy situation. They still have a few decent players (eg Borlin) who'll be looking to get a new team.

Round 2 results:

Avignon 38-18 Pia

Carcassonne 20-6 Limoux

FCL 82-0 Montpellier

St Esteve 38-18 Villeneuve

Round 3 result: Carcassonne beat TO 50-14

Todays results:

Montpellier 38-18 Lescure

St Esteve 22-27 FCL

Avignon 24-20 Villeneuve

Good to see Montpellier bounce back after their thrashing.

cracking games at Villeneuve and UTC with the visitors just about hanging on in each game despite some jittery moments...

well done Nathan for a superb drop goal to nudge FCL in front with Poggi securing the victory late on

disaster for TO13 against a strong ASC side - business as usual for Mr Dumas........

Did you watch UTC V FCL sj? did Bosquet play against FCL?