Sporting Union Agen Lot-et-Garonne (French pronunciation: [spɔʁtɪŋ ynjɔ̃ aʒɛ̃ lɔt e ɡaʁɔn]), commonly referred to as SU Agen, Agen (French pronunciation: [aʒɛ̃]) or SUALG, is a French professional rugby union club based in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne that competes in the Pro D2, France's second division of rugby.

SU Agen
Full nameSporting Union Agen Lot-et-Garonne
Founded1908; 116 years ago (1908)
LocationAgen, France
Ground(s)Stade Armandie (Capacity: 14,400)
PresidentAlain Tingaud
Coach(es)Christophe Laussucq
Rémi Vaquin
Captain(s)Antoine Erbani
League(s)Pro D2
2023–2413th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.agen-rugby.com

Founded in 1908, Agen is one of the historic clubs in French rugby, having won the French Championship eight times. Its home ground is the Stade Armandie and traditional club colours are navy blue and white.

The club is renowned for its youth system and its academy structure.

History

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The club was established in 1900. They made their first championship final in the 1930 season, where they met US Quillan, and defeated them 4 points to nil in Bordeaux, and thus capturing their first championship title. The club experienced some success in the coming years in the Challenge Yves du Manoir competition as well; winning it in the 1932 season and then becoming runners-up to Lyon OU in the 1933 season.

Agen would have another successful run in the 1940s, beginning with the 1943 season when they defeated Stade Bordelais 11 to 4 to win the Coupe de France. That season they also made it to the championship final; though they were defeated by Aviron Bayonnais 3 points to nil at Parc des Princes in Paris.

In 1945 they again won the title of the French championship, defeating FC Lourdes 7 points to 3 in the final in Paris. The championship was one of two titles that season, as Agen also won the Coupe de France, defeating Montferrand 14 to 13. Agen featured in one more championship that decade, losing to Toulouse 10 points to 3.

Agen were relatively quiet during the 1950s, though they again rose to prominence during the 1960s. In 1962 they again became of the champions of France after defeating Béziers 14 points to 11 in the season final. The following season they won the Challenge Yves du Manoir, defeating Brive 11 points to nil in the final. Agen became the French champions on two more occasions during the 1960s, defeating Brive in 1965 and then Dax in 1966.

The club had another successful run during the 1970s, starting with an unsuccessful Challenge Yves du Manoir final, losing to Toulon 25 points to 22. They were unsuccessful again in 1975 in the Challenge Yves du Manoir, losing to Béziers 16 points to 12 in the final. However they would then meet Béziers in the championship final of the 1976 season, and defeat them 13 to 10 to win their first championship since 1966.

Agen went through period of success in the 1980s after winning the championship in 1982, defeating Aviron Bayonnais 18 points to 9 in the final. The following season they won the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well after defeating Toulon 29 points to 7. In 1984 they again contested the championship final, though they eventually lost it to Béziers. They unsuccessfully contested it again in 1986, losing to Toulouse 16 to 6. They were also runners-up in the 1987 Challenge Yves du Manoir, losing to Grenoble. However, in 1988 they again won the championship, defeating Stadoceste Tarbais 9 to 3 in the final.

They contested the final again in the 1990 season, losing to Racing Club de France 22 points to 12. In 1992 they won the Challenge Yves du Manoir, defeating RC Narbonne 23 to 18.

Professional era

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In 1998 they played in their first European cup final, the European Challenge Cup, losing to fellow French team US Colomiers 43 to 5 in the final. On June 8, 2002 they lost to Biarritz Olympique in the championship final.

In recent years, one of their biggest stars has been Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca. He led the team in tries in 2005 and 2006, and led Pro D2 in that category during Agen's most recent promotion season in 2010. However, he would be dismissed from the team in September 2010 after failing to report to the team for preseason workouts (several weeks later, he would reemerge at Toulouse).

Honours

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Finals results

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French championship

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
18 May 1930 SU Agen 4-0 (aet) US Quillan Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 28.000
21 March 1943 Aviron Bayonnais 3-0 SU Agen Parc des Princes, Paris 28.000
7 April 1945 SU Agen 7-3 FC Lourdes Parc des Princes, Paris 30.000
13 April 1947 Stade Toulousain 10-3 SU Agen Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 25.000
27 May 1962 SU Agen 14-11 AS Béziers Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37.705
23 May 1965 SU Agen 15-8 CA Brive Stade de Gerland, Lyon 28.758
22 May 1966 SU Agen 9-8 US Dax Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 28.803
23 May 1976 SU Agen 13-10 (aet) AS Béziers Parc des Princes, Paris 40.300
29 May 1982 SU Agen 18-9 Aviron Bayonnais Parc des Princes, Paris 41.165
26 May 1984 AS Béziers 21-21 (aet) SU Agen Parc des Princes, Paris 44.076
24 May 1986 Stade Toulousain 16-6 SU Agen Parc des Princes, Paris 45.145
28 May 1988 SU Agen 9-3 Stadoceste Tarbais Parc des Princes, Paris 48.000
26 May 1990 Racing Club de France 22-12 (aet) SU Agen Parc des Princes, Paris 45.069
8 June 2002 Biarritz Olympique 25-22 (aet) SU Agen Stade de France, Saint-Denis 78.457

European Rugby Challenge Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
2 February 1998   US Colomiers 43-5   SU Agen Stade des Sept Deniers, Toulouse 12.500

Challenge Yves du Manoir

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Date Winners Score Runners-up
1932 SU Agen round robin Lyon OU
1933 Lyon OU round robin SU Agen
1963 SU Agen 11-0 CA Brive
1970 RC Toulon 25-22 SU Agen
1975 AS Béziers 16-12 SU Agen
1983 SU Agen 29-7 RC Toulon
1987 FC Grenoble 26-7 SU Agen
1992 SU Agen 23-18 RC Narbonne

French Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up
1943 SU Agen 11-4 Stade Bordelais
1945 SU Agen 14-13 AS Montferrand

Pro D2 promotion playoffs

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Date Winner Runner-up Score Venue Attendance
2014 La Rochelle SU Agen 31–22 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 33,262
2015 SU Agen Stade Montois 16–15 Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
2017 SU Agen US Montauban 41-20 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux

Current standings

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2024–25 Pro D2 Table
Pos Team 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
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
5 Biarritz 10 6 0 4 249 234 +15 2 1 27
6 Béziers 10 5 0 5 252 191 +61 2 5 27
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
Updated to match(es) played on 8 November 2024. Source: [1]

Current squad

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The Agen squad for the 2023–24 season is:[1]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Clement Martinez Hooker   France
Mike Sosene-Feagai Hooker   United States
Richard Barrington Prop   England
Alex Burin Prop   France
Beau Farrance Prop   England
Florent Guion Prop   France
Malik Hamadache Prop   France
Hans Lombard-Buret Prop   France
Thèo Sauzaret Prop   France
William Demotte Lock   France
Zak Farrance Lock   England
Joe Maksymiw Lock   England
Evan Olmstead Lock   Canada
Corentin Vernet Lock   France
Matthieu Bonnet Back row   France
Martin Devergie Back row   France
Arnaud Duputs Back row   France
Antoine Erbani Back row   France
Vincent Farre Back row   France
Julien Lebian Back row   France
Fotu Lokotui Back row   Tonga
Player Position Union
Dorian Bellot Scrum-half   France
Theo Idjellidaine Scrum-half   France
Sonatane Takulua Scrum-half   Tonga
Thomas Vincent Fly-half   France
Ben Volavola Fly-half   Fiji
Théo Belan Centre   France
Peyo Muscarditz Centre   France
Kolinio Ramoka Centre   Fiji
Harry Sloan Centre   England
Iban Etcheverry Wing   France
Inoke Nalaga Wing   Fiji
Henry Purdy Wing   England
Tevita Railevu Wing   Fiji
Timilai Rokoduru Wing   Fiji
Jean-Marcelin Buttin Fullback   France
Matthieu Lamoulie Fullback   France
Loris Tolot Fullback   France

Espoirs squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Aymeric Bardy Hooker   France
Pierre Jouvin Hooker   France
Gregory Robert Hooker   France
Alexandre Everaert Prop   France
Brice Hoarau Prop   France
Mamuka Mstoiani Prop   Georgia
Adrien Paganotto Prop   France
Maino Pakihivatau Prop   France
Riley Pulu Prop   New Zealand
Ben Nehring Lock   Germany
Maxime Turc Lock   France
Tomasi Fineanganofo Back row   Tonga
Valentin Gayraud Back row   France
Dany Lamataki Back row   France
Marius Rolland Back row   France
Player Position Union
Tom Chazarin Scrum-half   France
Romain Lefort Scrum-half   France
Andrea Lucchini Scrum-half   France
Emile Dayral Fly-half   France
Mathias Jean Fly-half   France
Gautier Lave Fly-half   France
Damien Marchal Fly-half   France
Yui Charrier Centre   France
Clement Garrigues Centre   France
Storm von Plaster Centre   South Africa
Allydael Camara Wing   France
Lucas De Buekelaer Wing   France
Matheo Fleiter Wing   France
Kelyan Giroud Wing   France
Jefferson Joseph Wing   France
Romain Darchen Fullback   France
Titouan Lemanier Fullback   France
Matthieu Maymat Fullback   France

Notable former players

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "EFFECTIF VERSION 19/20". Sporting Union Agenais (in French). Retrieved 7 September 2019.
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