# Valence Romans Drôme Rugby

Valence Romans Drôme Rugby (formerly L’Union sportive romanaise and péageoise) is a French rugby union club based in Romans-sur-Isère (Drôme). For the 2023–24 season they will be playing in Pro D2 having been promoted from Nationale.

## History

L’US romanaise and péageoise was founded in 1908 as the sport association of two town on both side of the Isère, Romans-sur-Isère and Bourg-de-Péage. Le club was the formed by a lot of worker of Shoes's factory. After the Second World War, the club was promoted in Top 16 and reach two times the semifinals (1954 and 1955), and in 1969 reach again the quarter of finals. This defined US Romans as one of the strongest French club in the 70's. In 1976, the "Damiers" (nickname of the players) lost the quarter of final against the future champion, Agen, and 1977 lost the semifinals against Perpignan (6-9). For eight consecutive years, Romans will pass the first round of the Championship. A first relegation in "Groupe B" in 1988, was followed by a return in "Group A". in 1990. In 1992, the club was again relegated. In 1995 Romans lost the "Groupe B1" final against FC Lourdes (a stunning match closed 37–36). A lot of famous French player have played at USRP in the past: like Arnaldo Gruarin, Robert Soro and Philippe Saint-André.
Now the club play in Fédérale 1, the third level of French rugby union system, after some year in the lower Fédérale 2. In 2018-19 they were promoted from Fédérale 1 into Rugby Pro D2. They now are called Valence Romans Drôme Rugby.

## Current standings

2024–25 Pro D2 Table :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Brive | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 120 | 78 | +42 | 1 | 1 | 14 | Semi-final promotion playoff place |
| 2 | Béziers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 74 | +26 | 1 | 1 | 14 | Semi-final promotion playoff place |
| 3 | Colomiers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 88 | 77 | +11 | 0 | 1 | 13 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 4 | Biarritz | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 91 | 82 | +9 | 0 | 1 | 13 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 5 | Grenoble | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 79 | 87 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 6 | Dax | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 94 | 84 | +10 | 0 | 0 | 12 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 7 | Agen | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 77 | +16 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
| 8 | Soyaux Angoulême | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 114 | 108 | +6 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 9 | Montauban | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 102 | 99 | +3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 10 | Oyonnax | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 98 | 59 | +39 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |
| 11 | Provence | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 83 | 98 | −15 | 0 | 1 | 9 | |
| 12 | Mont-de-Marsan | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 90 | 100 | −10 | 0 | 2 | 6 | |
| 13 | Aurillac | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 102 | 120 | −18 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 14 | Nevers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 83 | 111 | −28 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 15 | Nice | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 52 | 116 | −64 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Relegation play-off |
| 16 | Valence Romans | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 89 | 108 | −19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | Relegation to Nationale |

## Current squad

The Soyaux Angouleme squad for the 2023–24 season is:
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Cyril Deligny | Hooker | France |
| Brice Humbert | Hooker | France |
| Dorian Marco-Pena | Hooker | France |
| Anthony Aléo | Prop | France |
| Kevin Goze | Prop | France |
| Gareth Milasinovich | Prop | South Africa |
| Andrea Pontanier | Prop | France |
| Julien Royer | Prop | France |
| Chris Talakai | Prop | Australia |
| Darrel Dyer | Lock | England |
| Florian Goumat | Lock | France |
| Yassine Maamry | Lock | France |
| Ryan McCauley | Lock | Australia |
| Eloi Massot | Lock | France |
| Svet Bernat Girlando | Back row | France |
| Thembelani Bholi | Back row | South Africa |
| Charles Brayer | Back row | France |
| Axel Bruchet | Back row | France |
| Ioane Iashagashvili | Back row | Georgia |
| Phillippe Laville | Back row | France |
| Loan Real | Back row | France |
| Matthieu Vachon | Back row | France |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Léopold Dupas | Scrum-half | France |
| Thomas Lhuséro | Scrum-half | France |
| Tim Menzel | Scrum-half | Germany |
| Lucas Méret | Fly-half | France |
| Joris Moura | Fly-half | Portugal |
| Mathieu Guillomot | Centre | France |
| Ben Neiceru | Centre | Fiji |
| Anatole Pauvert | Centre | France |
| Jonathan Quinnez | Centre | France |
| Isaac Te Tamaki | Centre | New Zealand |
| Bart Wierenga | Centre | Netherlands |
| TJ Maguranyanga | Wing | Zimbabwe |
| Mosese Mawalu | Wing | Fiji |
| Gauthier Minguillon | Wing | Spain |
| Adam Vargas | Wing | France |
| Charles Bouldoire | Fullback | France |
| George Worth | Fullback | England |

### Espoirs squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
| Player | Position | Union |
| Victor Bonnardel | Hooker | France |
| Baptiste Chazel | Hooker | France |
| Tom Pruvost | Hooker | France |
| Esteban Chouteau | Prop | France |
| Enric Hilarion | Prop | France |
| Mathis Roume | Prop | France |
| Semi Ramacake | Lock | Fiji |
| Julien Svitek | Lock | France |
| Mathis Arnal | Back row | France |
| Nahel Hasnaoui | Back row | France |
| Maxime Hopsort | Back row | France |
| Adrien Roux | Back row | France |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Nathan Fugnier | Scrum-half | France |
| Mateo Lajous | Scrum-half | France |
| Clément Martinez | Scrum-half | France |
| Clement Doucet | Fly-half | France |
| Marco Sanchez | Centre | France |
| Esteban Tercq | Centre | France |
| Marvin Maurice | Wing | France |
| Ulysse Pallot | Wing | France |
| Noé Perret-Tourlonias | Wing | France |
| Jules Swier | Wing | Netherlands |

## Achievements

* Championnat of France Première Division
** Semifinalist : 1954, 1955, 1977
** Quart of Final : 1976
** Eights of Finalist : 1978, 1981,
** 16th of Final : 1975, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986
* Championnat of France Première Division Groupe B1
** Finalist : 1995
* Championnat of France 2nd division série
** Finalist: 1959
* Championnat of France Reichel
** Winner : 1983
* Championnat of France Crabos
** Winner : 1974
* Championnat of France Cadet
** Finalist: 1998
** Winner : 1989
** Finalist : 1979
* Championnat of France Minimes
** Finalist : 1998
* Championnat of France Nationale B
** Finalist 2009
** Semifinalist 2010
** Semifinalist 2011
* Challenge Gaudermen (Cadets)
** Winner : 1989
** Semifinalist : 1979

### Other competitions

* Winner of Challenge of l'Espérance (1) : 1956
* Finalist du Challenge of l'Espérance (1) : 1992

## Famous players

| Jacques Bouquet Gilles Darlet Roger Gensane Nicolas of Grégorio Arnaldo Gruarin Marcel Guilermoz Jean-Claude Juzon Igor Juzon Paul Lafourcade Yves Menthillier Jacques Servien | Claude Mignacabal Jean-Claude Mignacabal Lucien Rouffia Philippe Saint-André Raphaël Saint-André Bernard Saubesty Robert Soro Albert Urquizu Gérard Verdoulet Jean-Luc Bailly |