# AS Béziers Hérault

Association sportive de Béziers Hérault (French pronunciation:; Occitan: Associacion Esportiva de Besièrs Erau), often referred to by rugby media simply by its location of Béziers, is a French rugby union club currently playing in the second level of the country's professional rugby system, Pro D2. They earned their most recent promotion as 2011 Fédérale 1 champions, but the club also won 11 Top 14 titles since its establishment in 1911.
Béziers was a major force in French rugby throughout the 1970s and 1980s; however, at the end of 2004–05 season they were relegated to Pro D2. After some years playing in French second division, they finished bottom of the table in 2008–09 and were relegated to amateur Fédérale 1, before returning to Pro D2 after their 2011 title. They are based in Béziers in Occitania, and play at Stade Raoul-Barrière (capacity 18,555). The club colors are red and blue.

## History

The club was established in 1911. Their first notable honour was being runners-up in the Coupe de France. However it would not be until the 1960s when the club began its rise to prominence. Béziers made their first championship appearance in the 1960 season. On 22 May they faced FC Lourdes in the final, losing 14 points to 11 in Toulouse. Béziers found mixed success during the 1960s following their first championship loss to Lourdes. The next season they won their first championship, defeating US Dax 6 points to 3 in Lyon. They were also runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir that season. They also contested the domestic championship in 1962, though they lost to SU Agen 14 to 11 in the final. Béziers performed well in the 1964 season as well; losing the championship final to Section Paloise, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir.
After the success during the early 1960s Béziers became a powerful club in the 1970s. In 1971 Béziers made it to the final of the domestic championship; defeating RC Toulon 15 points to 9 in Bordeaux. The following season Béziers captured the championship, defeating Brive 9 points to nil in Lyon, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well. The club won championships in 1974 and 1975, defeating RC Narbonne and Brive respectively, both times at Parc des Princes in Paris. They were also involved in the 1976 final, though they lost to Agen, 13 to 10. The following season they won the championship again, defeating Perpignan 12 to 4 in the final. They also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well.
The next season they successfully defended their domestic title; defeating ASM Clermont Auvergne 31 points to 9 in the championship game in Paris. They however did not win back-to-back Challenge Yves du Manoir titles; though they came close, being runners-up. The success continued in the early 1980s as well, winning the championship of the 1980 season, defeating Toulouse 10 to 6 in the final, as well as being Challenge Yves du Manoir runners-up that season. Béziers repeated this again the next season; actually defeating Toulouse in the championship final again, and were runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir. They were champions again in 1983 and 1984, defeating RC Nice and Agen in the finals respectively. They also won the Coupe de France in the 1986 season.
Béziers returned to the professional ranks in 2011–12 following their 13–6 win over Périgueux in the 2011 Fédérale 1 final on 26 June. Both finalists were assured of promotion to Pro D2.
They struggled in their return season in Pro D2, finishing next-to last on the league table and well out of the safety zone. However, when ninth-place Bourgoin were forcibly relegated to Fédérale 1 for financial reasons, Béziers remained in Pro D2 for 2012–13.
In October 2024, it was reported that a consortium made up of Irish businessman and TV personality Eddie Jordan alongside former New Zealand and South Africa internationals Andrew Mehrtens and Bobby Skinstad respectively, were forming a consortium to buy the club as part of a wider project to emulate the success of the City Football Group.

## Honours

* French championship Top 14
** Champions (11): 1961, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984
** Runners-up (4): 1960, 1962, 1964, 1976
* Challenge Yves du Manoir
** Champions (4): 1964, 1972, 1975, 1977
** Runners-up (6): 1960, 1961, 1973, 1978, 1980, 1981
* French Cup
** Champions (1): 1986
** Runners-up (1): 1950
* Fédérale 1
** Champions: 2011
* Elite 2
** Champions: 2000
* coupe d'europe Fira
** Champions: 1962

## Finals results
### French championship

| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Spectators |
| 22 May 1960 | FC Lourdes | 14–11 | AS Béziers | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | 37.200 |
| 28 May 1961 | AS Béziers | 6–3 | US Dax | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | 35.000 |
| 27 May 1962 | SU Agen | 14–11 | AS Béziers | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | 37.705 |
| 24 May 1964 | Section Paloise | 14–0 | AS Béziers | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse | 27.797 |
| 16 May 1971 | AS Béziers | 15–9 AP | RC Toulon | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux | 27.737 |
| 21 May 1972 | AS Béziers | 9–0 | CA Brive | Stade de Gerland, Lyon | 31.161 |
| 12 May 1974 | AS Béziers | 16–14 | RC Narbonne | Parc des Princes, Paris | 40.609 |
| 18 May 1975 | AS Béziers | 13–12 | CA Brive | Parc des Princes, Paris | 39.991 |
| 23 May 1976 | SU Agen | 13–10 AP | AS Béziers | Parc des Princes, Paris | 40.300 |
| 29 May 1977 | AS Béziers | 12–4 | USA Perpignan | Parc des Princes, Paris | 41.821 |
| 28 May 1978 | AS Béziers | 31–9 | AS Montferrand | Parc des Princes, Paris | 42.004 |
| 25 May 1980 | AS Béziers | 10–6 | Stade Toulousain | Parc des Princes, Paris | 43.350 |
| 23 May 1981 | AS Béziers | 22–13 | Stade Bagnérais | Parc des Princes, Paris | 44.106 |
| 28 May 1983 | AS Béziers | 14–6 | RC Nice | Parc des Princes, Paris | 43.100 |
| 26 May 1984 | AS Béziers | 21–21 | SU Agen | Parc des Princes, Paris | 44.076 |

### Challenge Yves du Manoir

| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 1960 | Stade Montois | 9–9 | AS Béziers |
| 1961 | Stade Montois | 17–8 | AS Béziers |
| 1964 | AS Béziers | 6–3 | Section Paloise |
| 1972 | AS Béziers | 27–6 | AS Montferrand |
| 1973 | RC Narbonne | 13–6 | AS Béziers |
| 1975 | AS Béziers | 16–12 | SU Agen |
| 1977 | AS Béziers | 19–18 | FC Lourdes |
| 1978 | RC Narbonne | 19–19 (more tries scored) | AS Béziers |
| 1980 | Aviron Bayonnais | 16–10 | AS Béziers |
| 1981 | FC Lourdes | 25–13 | AS Béziers |

### French Cup

| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 1950 | FC Lourdes | 16–3 | AS Béziers |
| 1986 | AS Béziers | 40–9 | Stade Aurillacois |

## Current standings

2024–25 Pro D2 Table :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Provence | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 245 | 192 | +53 | 3 | 2 | 31 | Semi-final promotion playoff place |
| 2 | Grenoble | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 263 | 229 | +34 | 2 | 1 | 31 | Semi-final promotion playoff place |
| 3 | Montauban | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 274 | 251 | +23 | 1 | 2 | 31 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 4 | Brive | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 265 | 217 | +48 | 3 | 2 | 29 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 5 | Biarritz | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 249 | 234 | +15 | 2 | 1 | 27 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 6 | Béziers | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 252 | 191 | +61 | 2 | 5 | 27 | Quarter-final promotion playoff place |
| 7 | Soyaux Angoulême | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 225 | 215 | +10 | 1 | 1 | 26 | |
| 8 | Colomiers | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 212 | 235 | −23 | 0 | 2 | 24 | |
| 9 | Agen | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 230 | 232 | −2 | 0 | 5 | 21 | |
| 10 | Mont-de-Marsan | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 264 | 247 | +17 | 2 | 3 | 21 | |
| 11 | Dax | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 192 | 219 | −27 | 0 | 1 | 21 | |
| 12 | Nevers | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 194 | 243 | −49 | 1 | 2 | 19 | |
| 13 | Oyonnax | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 201 | 217 | −16 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |
| 14 | Aurillac | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 231 | 282 | −51 | 0 | 1 | 17 | |
| 15 | Nice | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 193 | 267 | −74 | 0 | 4 | 16 | Relegation play-off |
| 16 | Valence Romans | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 255 | 274 | −19 | 0 | 3 | 15 | Relegation to Nationale |

## Current squad

The Béziers 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 |
| Wilmar Arnoldi | Hooker | South Africa |
| Yvann Lalevée | Hooker | Franceé |
| José Luis González | Hooker | Argentina |
| Giorgi Akhaladze | Prop | Georgia |
| Filippo Alongi | Prop | Italy |
| Youssef Amrouni | Prop | France |
| Yannick Arroyo | Prop | France |
| Francisco Fernandes | Prop | Portugal |
| John-Henry Fincham | Prop | France |
| Luka Tchelidze | Prop | Georgia |
| Jon Zabala | Prop | Spain |
| Clément Bitz | Lock | France |
| Pierre Gayraud | Lock | France |
| John Madigan | Lock | Ireland |
| Hans N'Kinsi | Lock | France |
| Clément Ancely | Back row | France |
| Gillian Benoy | Back row | Belgium |
| Pierrick Gunther | Back row | France |
| Thomas Hoarau | Back row | France |
| Sias Koen | Back row | South Africa |
| Otunuku Pauta | Back row | Tonga |
| William Van Bost | Back row | Belgium |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Jean-Victor Goillot | Scrum-half | France |
| Samuel Marques | Scrum-half | Portugal |
| Mitch Short | Scrum-half | Australia |
| Victor Dreuille | Fly-half | France |
| Harry Glynn | Fly-half | England |
| Romain Uruty | Fly-half | France |
| Maxime Espeut | Centre | France |
| Branden Holder | Centre | France |
| Paul Réau | Centre | France |
| Paul Recor | Centre | France |
| Taleta Tupuola | Centre | New Zealand |
| Watisoni Votu | Centre | Fiji |
| Paul Alquier | Wing | France |
| Pierre Courtaud | Wing | France |
| Nicolas Plazy | Wing | France |
| Raffaele Storti | Wing | Portugal |
| Gabin Lorre | Fullback | France |
| Charly Malie | Fullback | France |
| Tim Nanai-Williams | Fullback | Samoa |

### 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 |
| Yanis Boulassel | Hooker | France |
| Julien Rasamoelina | Prop | France |
| Clément Samper | Prop | France |
| Matthys Louw | Lock | South Africa |
| Thomas Canaleta | Back row | France |
| Apisalome Kuruisaqila | Back row | Fiji |
| Antoine Payrastre | Back row | France |
| Joaquin Selma | Back row | France |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Leon Sanchis | Scrum-half | France |
| Sevuloni Lutu | Centre | Fiji |
| Arnaud Sola | Centre | France |
| Maxime Vacquier | Centre | France |
| Théo Vassallo | Centre | France |
| Maxime Mazzella | Wing | France |
| Tevita Boseiwaqa | Fullback | Fiji |
| Mathias Duchaux | Fullback | France |

## Notable former players

* Santiago González Bonorino
* Federico Todeschini
* Gonzalo Quesada
* Santiago Iglesias Valdez
* Matias Viazzo
* Rodney Iona
* Jye Mullane
* Josh Valentine
* Warwick Waugh
* Tyrone Viiga
* Anthony Hill
* Marc Andrieu
* Richard Astre
* Yoan Audrin
* Marc Baget
* David Banquet
* Raoul Barrière
* Lionel Beauxis
* Pierre Bérard
* Mohamed Boughanmi
* Terry Bouhraoua
* André Buonomo
* Yvan Buonomo
* Adolphe Bousquet
* Sébastien Bruno
* Henri Cabrol
* Didier Camberabero
* Gilles Camberabero
* Jack Cantoni
* Alain Carminati
* Romain Carmignani
* Richard Castel
* Frédéric Cermeno
* Olivier Chaplain
* Arnaud Costes
* Pierre Danos
* Paul Dedieu
* Cédric Desbrosse
* Benjamin Desroches
* Michel Dieudé
* Richard Dourthe
* Jean-Frédéric Dubois
* Nicolas Durand
* Philippe Escande
* Alain Estève
* Michel Fabre
* Patrick Fort
* Philippe Gallart
* Camille Gérondeau
* Kevin Gimeno
* Jean-Philippe Grandclaude
* Steven Hall
* Jean-Pierre Hortoland
* Alain Hyardet
* Pierre Lacans
* Thibault Lacroix
* Julien Laharrague
* Félix Lambey
* Brice Mach
* Rémy Martin
* Jean-Paul Medina
* Alexandre Menini
* Ludovic Mercier
* Pierre Mignoni
* Brice Miguel
* Hakim Miloudi
* Yannick Nyanga
* Alain Paco
* Michel Palmié
* Jean-Pierre Pesteil
* Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet
* Jérôme Porical
* Thibaut Privat
* Jean-Luc Rivallo
* Olivier Saïsset
* Claude Saurel
* Jean Sébédio
* Cédric Soulette
* Dimitri Szarzewski
* Armand Vaquerin
* Vasil Katsadze
* Davit Khinchagishvili
* Irakli Machkhaneli
* Lasha Malaghuradze
* Lasha Lomidze
* Goderdzi Shvelidze
* Jamie Hagan
* Conrad Marais
* Andrew Mehrtens
* Lachie Munro
* Elijah Niko
* Alin Petrache
* Cristian Petre
* Augustin Petrechei
* Lucian Sîrbu
* Steve Fualau
* Robert Ebersohn
* Dries Swanepoel
* Álvar Gimeno
* Suka Hufanga
* Winston Mafi
* Samiu Vahafolau
* Salesi Sika
* Seta Tuilevuka
* Albert Tuipulotu
* Andy Powell