Racing Club Albi XIII

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Racing Club Albi XII
Elite One Championship
2018/195th
Uniforms
Home colours

Racing Club Albi XIII originally called Racing Club Albigeois XIII and more recently also known as Albi Tigers are a semi-professional

Lord Derby Cup
once. Their current home stadium is Stade Mazicou.

History

RC Albi were one of the founder clubs of Rugby League in France indeed they were the second club formed after US Villeneuve in May 1934. They were formed by Jean-Marie Vignal one of Jean Galia's pioneers who would be the club's first captain/coach and Simon Bompunt who would be the club's first chairman. Initially the club recruited from nearby Toulouse as the local Rugby Union club SC Albi refused players to move to the new club, only two would move in the early years. The club finished 7th in their debut season their first ever match finishing in a 6–26 defeat at Bordeaux XIII[1]

In season 1937-38 despite finishing 7th the club won through the play-offs to reach the final and then caused a major upset, beating

French rugby league championship three times in six years. They also hosted the touring Australia national rugby league team
, losing in 1952 22-31 and 20–25 in 1956 but in 1959 they earned a fantastic 19–10 win against them in front of 5,845 spectators

Since then the club have not fared too well they have won the championship and cup once each, in 1977 and 1974 respectively. The club withdrew from the

Elite Two Championship
and returned to the top flight finishing a creditable 5th in 2015–16.

The club currently runs youth sides and a ladies team.

Colours and Badge

The club have always played in amber and black. The Badge has been changed originally it was a French cockerel stood on a rugby ball with the number 13 on the ball. This was changed to a tiger next to a tower logo before the current one was used. The reference to 'Tigers' comes from the 90s when they followed many other clubs in adopting a moniker, possibly along the lines of Castleford Tigers who happen to play in the same colours

Stadium

Stadium Municipal d'Albi

Stadium Municipal d'Albi has been the club's home ground since it opened for rugby in 1964. The main stand is a cantilever grandstand while opposite is newer stand both these stands are all seated, at either end there is terracing. In 1977 the

RC Albi being in the final against AS Carcassonne. A record rugby crowd of 20,000 witnessed an Albi win, their last to date. In 1979 France national rugby league team beat the touring Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
16–9. The stadium underwent a major revamp in 2007 resulting in the now 13,058 capacity including 8,000 seated. They are currently based at Stade Mazicou.

Current squad

Squad for 2022-23 Season

Albi Elite 1 Squad

Fullbacks

Wingers

Centres

Standoff (Five-eighths)

Halfbacks

Props

Hookers

Second rowers

Locks (Loose forwards)

Notable players

Honours

  • French championship (5): 1937–38, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1961–62, 1976–77
  • Lord Derby Cup (1): 1973-74
  • Elite Two (2): 1990–91, 2014–15

References

  1. ISBN 9781901347258
    .
  2. ISBN 9781901347258
    .
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