Castres Olympique () is a French

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

club located in the

Occitanian Occitan (; oc, occitan, link=no ), also known as ''lenga d'òc'' (; french: langue d'oc) by its native speakers, and sometimes also referred to as ''Provençal'', is a Romance language spoken in Southern France, Monaco, Italy's Occitan Va ...

city of

Castres Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect of Occitan) is the sole subprefecture of the Tarn department in the Occitanie region in Southern France. It lies in the former province of Languedoc, although not in the former region of Lan ...

and is currently competing in the top level of the French league system. Founded in 1898, the club took its current name in 1906. They play at the

Stade Pierre-Fabre Stade Pierre-Fabre, formerly known as Stade Pierre-Antoine, is a multi-purpose stadium in Castres, France. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of Castres Olympique. The stadium is able to hold 12,300 spect ...

, which is one of the smallest in Top 14 with a capacity of 12,500. The team wear blue and white kits. The team won five French top-division championships in 1949, 1950, 1993 (in a match decided by an irregular try accorded by the referee), 2013, and 2018 as well as one Coupe de France in 1948.

History

1898 Events January–March * January 1 – New York City annexes land from surrounding counties, creating the City of Greater New York as the world's second largest. The city is geographically divided into five boroughs: Manhattan, B ...

several

alumni Alumni (singular: alumnus (masculine) or alumna (feminine)) are former students of a school, college, or university who have either attended or graduated in some fashion from the institution. The feminine plural alumnae is sometimes used for grou ...

of Castres' municipal college met in a city centre bar and decided to create a team allowing them to play their favourite sport,

. For the first few years this team was part of a

multisport club A sports club or sporting club, sometimes an athletics club or sports society or sports association, is a group of people formed for the purpose of playing sports. Sports clubs range from organisations whose members play together, unpaid, and ...

until 1906. Unhappy with the dominating position

cycling Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from ...

had within the club, the members of the rugby section decided to leave and create a club of their own, solely dedicated to their sport. It was decided that this club would be named Castres Olympique and its colours would be changed from yellow and black to its current blue, white and grey. The new club reached the top flight after only 15 years of existence and has remained there ever since, bar for a couple of years during the 80s when the club was in the then Section B of the 1st division. The club has never left the 1st division since 1921. For a while Castres Olympique would experience mixed fortunes until

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...

when they reached and won their first

Coupe de France The Coupe de France, formerly known as the Coupe Charles Simon, is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation (FFF). It was first held in 1917 and is open to all amateur and profession ...

. The prestigious championship would follow a year later, and again in

1950 Events January * January 1 – The International Police Association (IPA) – the largest police organization in the world – is formed. * January 5 – Sverdlovsk plane crash: ''Aeroflot'' Lisunov Li-2 crashes in a snowstorm. All 19 ...

. From the 1960s the club would experience a stream of mediocre seasons and steady decline until Pierre Fabre, the founder of a local

pharmaceutical A medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy ( pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and ...

company, decided to take over the club and restore it to its former relative glory in

1988 File:1988 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The oil platform Piper Alpha explodes and collapses in the North Sea, killing 165 workers; The USS Vincennes (CG-49) mistakenly shoots down Iran Air Flight 655; Australia celebrates its Bicenten ...

. The

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...

French Rugby Union Championship was won by Castres who beat

Grenoble lat, Gratianopolis , commune status = Prefecture and commune , image = Panorama grenoble.png , image size = , caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...

14–11 in controversial final. Indeed a try of Olivier Brouzet is denied to Grenoble and the decisive try by Gary Whetton was awarded by the referee, Daniel Salles, when in fact the defender Franck Hueber from Grenoble touched down the ball first in his try zone. This error gave the title to Castres. Salles admitted the error 13 years later . Jacques Fouroux conflict with the Federation and who was already suspicious before the match of the referee cry out conspiracy. The club reached the final again in

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...

losing 31–16 to

Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain () ( oc, Estadi Tolosenc), also referred to as Toulouse, is a professional rugby union club based in Toulouse, France. They compete in the Top 14, France's top division of rugby, and the European Rugby Champions Cup. Tou ...

. Castres won the 2012–13 French Rugby Union Championship beating

Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...

19–14 in the final. The team's owner, Pierre Fabre, the founder of

Laboratoires Pierre Fabre Laboratoires Pierre Fabre is a French multinational pharmaceutical and cosmetics company. The company had a consolidated turnover of 1.978 billion euros in 2012 (including 54% international). It is headquartered in the city of Castres, Midi-Pyrén ...

. died on 20 July 2013. Castres' home stadium, previously known as Stade Pierre-Antoine, was renamed in his memory during ceremonies in conjunction with Castres' match with

Montpellier Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. In 2018, 290,053 people l ...

on 9 September 2017. Castres won the 2017–18 French Rugby Union Championship beating

29–13 in the final.

Honours

* French championship: ** Champions (5) : 1949, 1950, 1993, 2013, 2018 ** Runners-up (3) : 1995, 2014, 2022 *

: ** Champions (1) : 1948 *

Challenge Yves du Manoir The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir. History The Challenge Yves du Manoir was officially created on ...

: ** Runners-up (1) : 1993 * Group B French Champions: ** Champions (1) : 1989 * European Challenge Cup: ** Runners-up (2) : 1997, 2000 *

European Shield The European Shield (known as the Parker Pen Shield for sponsorship reasons) was a repechage tournament for teams knocked out in the first round of the European Challenge Cup. As such, it formed Europe's third-tier club rugby union competition ...

: ** Champions (1) : 2003

Finals results

French championship

Current standings

Current squad

The Castres squad for the 2022–23 season is:

Espoirs squad

The Castres Olympique Espoirs squad is:

Notable former players

* Horacio Agulla * Rafael Carballo * Ignacio Fernández Lobbe * Santiago González Bonorino *

Ramiro Herrera Ramiro Herrera (born 14 February 1989) is an Argentine people, Argentine Rugby Union, rugby union footballer who plays as a Prop (rugby union), prop for Jaguares (Super Rugby), Jaguares in Super Rugby. Career Herrera started out his rugby care ...

Mario Ledesma Mario Ledesma Arocena (born 17 May 1973 in Buenos Aires) is an Argentine rugby union coach and a former international rugby player. He played in Argentina's successful 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign and had a professional playing career in France s ...

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Mauricio Reggiardo Mauricio Horacio Reggiardo (born 22 February 1970 in Bragado) is a retired Argentina, Argentine rugby union footballer. He played as a prop. He is currently the head coach of Rugby Pro D2, Pro D2 side Provence Rugby, Provence. Reggiardo played f ...

* Michael Cheika *

Taylor Paris Taylor Flavio Paris (born 6 October 1992 in Barrie, Ontario) is a Canadian rugby union player. He is currently signed with the Castres Olympique and also regularly plays for the Canadian Men's 15's and 7's teams. Previously Paris had played with ...

Martin Kafka Martin Paul Kafka (born 1947) is an American psychiatrist best known for his work on sex offenders, paraphilias and what he calls "paraphilia-related disorders" such as sex addiction and hypersexuality. Career Kafka earned his undergraduate de ...

Phil Christophers Philip Derek Christophers (born on 16 June 1980 in Heidelberg) is a former rugby union footballer, who played on the wing for Castres and, briefly, England. Christophers was born and raised in Germany with an English father and a German mo ...

* Marcel Garvey *

Paul Volley Paul William Volley (born 2 November 1971 in Beckenham, Kent) is an English former rugby union player. As an open-side flanker, he played for London Wasps for 16 years. He joined as a 16-year-old from Chinnor. Volley was first called up to th ...

Seremaia Bai Seremaia Baïkeinuku (born 4 January 1979) is a retired Fijian rugby union player who played most recently for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership, and represented Fiji at a National level. He plays at both Fly-half and Inside Centre. Ca ...

Semi Kunatani Semi Kunabuli Kunatani (born 27 October 1990) is a Fiji rugby union player. He plays for the Fiji sevens team and also Top 14 side Castres . He previously played for Top 14 side, Stade Toulousain and Premiership Rugby side Harlequins. Kunatani ...

* Alexandre Albouy * Marc Andreu * Grégory Arganese * Éric Artiguste * David Attoub * Yoan Audrin *

Mathieu Barrau Mathieu Barrau (born 3 September 1977 in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, France is a French international rugby union scrum half principally for SU Agen. Barrau made his international début for France in July 2004, against usa, but would have to fight ...

* Armand Batlle * Pierre Bérard * Pierre Bernard * Didier Bès * Alexandre Bias * Mathieu Bonello * Paul Bonnefond * David Bory * Mathieu Bourret *

René Bousquet René Bousquet (; 11 May 1909 – 8 June 1993) was a high-ranking French political appointee who served as secretary general to the Vichy French police from May 1942 to 31 December 1943. For personal heroism, he had become a protégé of promine ...

* Marcel Burgun * Yannick Caballero * Alain Carminati *

Romain Cabannes Romain Cabannes (born 2 December 1984) is a French rugby union player. His position is centre and he currently plays for Castres Olympique in the Top 14. He began his career with his home town club, Stade Montois, before moving to Pau and on to ...

Thomas Castaignède Thomas Castaignède (born 21 January 1975) is a rugby union footballer from Mont-de-Marsan. Born in Mont-de-Marsan, Aquitaine, Castaignède played as a junior and senior for Stade Montois in various positions, initially as fly-half or centre, ...

* Frédéric Cermeno * Albert Cigagna * Gerard Cholley * Antonie Claassen * René Coll *

Arnaud Costes Arnaud Costes (born 16 June 1973 in Tulle, France) is a French former international rugby union footballer who also played for France national team. Career As flanker he played for several French clubs: he debuted in the French championship ...

Michel Courtiols Michel Courtiols (born 27 April 1965 in Fumel) is a former French rugby union player. He played as a flanker. He played for Cahors Rugby and for Bordeaux Bègles, from 1990/91 to 1996/97. He won one title of the French Championship, in 1990/91, a ...

* Yann David * Yann Delaigue *

Ibrahim Diarra Ibrahim Diarra (25 May 1983 – 18 December 2019) was a French rugby union footballer. He played as a flanker for Castres. Diarra was born in Paris. He made his international debut for France in their fourth match of the 2008 Six Nations Champ ...

* Richard Dourthe * Luc Ducalcon * Brice Dulin *

Antoine Dupont Antoine Dupont (born 15 November 1996) is a French professional rugby union player. He currently plays at scrum half for Toulouse in the Top 14 and captains the France national team. In 2021, Dupont won World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year. ...

* Florian Faure *

Yannick Forestier Yannick Forestier (born 2 January 1982) is a French rugby union player. His position is Prop and he currently plays for Castres Olympique in the Top 14. Honours Club Castres *Top 14: 2012–13 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representi ...

* Romain Froment * Alessio Galasso * Camille Gérondeau * Karim Ghezal *

Rémy Grosso Rémy Grosso (born 4 December 1988) is a former French professional rugby union player. He played at wing for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. He was a late call up to the French squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, replacing the injured Yoann ...

Raphaël Ibañez Raphaël Ibañez (born 17 February 1973) is a retired French rugby union footballer. A hooker, he represented the France national team 98 times, and as captain 41 times. After a career in club rugby management, he became Team Manager for France ...

* Vincent Inigo * Anthony Jelonch *

Benjamin Kayser Benjamin Kayser (born 26 July 1984) is a French former rugby union player. He most recently played at hooker for Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14. Kayser rejoined Stade Français at the end of the 2008/2009 season from Leicester Tigers in ...

* Daniel Kötze *

Laurent Labit Laurent Labit (born 8 May 1973) is a retired French rugby union footballer, and current backs coach of the French national team. Early life Labit was born in Revel, France. He began his playing career in his home town of Rugby Club Revélois ...

Thierry Lacrampe Thierry Lacrampe (born 23 February 1988) is a French rugby union player. His position is Scrum-half and he formerly played for Section Paloise in the Top 14. He began his career with Tarbes Tarbes (; Gascon: ''Tarba'') is a commune in the H ...

Thierry Lacroix Thierry Lacroix (born 2 March 1967 in Nogaro, France) is a former French rugby union footballer. He won 43 caps playing at fly-half for the French rugby union side. He made his international test debut in Strasbourg at the age of 22 on 4 Novemb ...

* Pierre-Gilles Lakafia * Remi Lamerat * Benjamin Lapeyre * Thibault Lassalle * Christophe Laussucq * Romain Martial * Jean Matheu * Lionel Mazars * Ugo Mola * Yohan Montès *

Lionel Nallet Lionel Nallet (born 14 September 1976) is a former French rugby union player. He played as a lock and is a former captain of the France national team. He began his professional career with CS Bourgoin-Jallieu, playing there from 1998 to 2003 bef ...

* Mathieu Nicolas *

Pascal Papé Pascal Papé (; born 5 October 1980) is a former French rugby union footballer. Papé played as a lock, and currently most recently represented Stade Français in club rugby, after spending many years at Bourgoin. He also spent one season at Cas ...

Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet (born 5 January 1984) is a French rugby union player. Peyras-Loustalet, who is a winger, plays his club rugby for Montpellier after signing from Bayonne Bayonne (; eu, Baiona ; oc, label= Gascon, Baiona ; es, ...

* Lucas Pointud * Julien Puricelli * Ludovic Radosavljevic * Marc-Antoine Rallier * Nicolas Raffault * Matthias Rolland * David Roumieu * Christophe Samson * Olivier Sarraméa * Maurice Siman * Nicolas Spanghero * Scott Spedding *

Patrick Tabacco Patrick Tabacco (born 23 April 1974) is a French rugby player. A native of Toulouse, he has played for the US Colomiers (1997–2000), Stade Français Paris (2000–2004), Section Paloise (2004–2006) and Castres Olympique. He was a member of F ...

Rémi Tales The Remi were an ancient Belgic tribe. Remi may also refer to: People * Georges Prosper Remi (1907–1983), a Belgian comic book writer and artist, best known for his comic ''The Adventures of Tintin'', better known as "Hergé" * Jose Vega San ...

* Guilaume Taussac *

Romain Teulet Romain Teulet (born February 5, 1978 in Bergerac, Dordogne) is a French rugby union player, who played for Top 14 team Castres Olympique. Nicknamed ''Robocop'' for his unusual preparation and high success rate for penalty kicks, and ''le petit l ...

* Sébastien Tillous-Borde *

Julien Tomas Julien Tomas (born 21 April 1985) is a French rugby union footballer. He plays as a scrum-half. Born in Montpellier, Julien Tomas currently plays for Montpellier in the Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional sports, professional rugby unio ...

* Christophe Urios * Akvsenti Giorgadze * Paliko Jimsheladze * Anton Peikrishvili * Tim Barker * Jeremy Davidson *

Justin Fitzpatrick Justin Michael Fitzpatrick (born 21 November 1973) is an Irish former rugby union player who most recently was head coach of the Houston SaberCats of Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for London Irish, Castres Olympique, Dungann ...

Pablo Canavosio Pablo Canavosio (born 26 December 1981 in Córdoba, Argentina) is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer. Canavosio played for Rovigo, Calvisano, Castres Olympique and Aironi. His usual position is at scrum half or wing. Canavosio has be ...

Ramiro Pez Ramiro Pez (born 6 December 1978 in Córdoba, Argentina) is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer who normally plays at fly-half. In 2008-09, he joined the newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon, having been signed from Venezia Mestre i ...

Fabio Staibano Fabio Staibano (born 20 April 1983) is an Italian rugby union footballer. He plays as a prop. Staibano was born in Eboli. He played at a youth level at Battipaglia Rugby, moving to Overmach Rugby Parma F.C., aged 18, where he would stay from 2 ...

* Cristian Stoica * Ismaila Lassissi *

Djalil Narjissi Djalil Narjissi ( ar, دجاليل نرجسي; born 18 January 1980) is a Moroccan rugby union footballer who currently plays in the Top 14, for Agen. He joined Agen in 2004, having previously played for Castres. Narjissi is also the captain of t ...

Kees Lensing Gideon "Kees" Lensing (born 1 June 1978 in Keetmanshoop, Namibia) is a former Namibian rugby union player and former head coach of the Seattle Seawolves of Major League Rugby (MLR). He played as a prop for six different teams over more than 11 ...

Norm Berryman Norman Rangi Berryman (15 April 1973 – 22 June 2015) was a New Zealand rugby union player who played as a winger and centre. Accessed 1 March 2009 He played one Test for the All Blacks, and represented Northland, the Crusaders and the Chief ...

Frank Bunce Frank Eneri Bunce (born 4 February 1962) is a retired New Zealand rugby union player and coach. He played international rugby for both Western Samoa and New Zealand in the 1990s, appearing in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups. He played in four int ...

* Brad Fleming *

Carl Hoeft Carl Henry Hoeft (born 13 November 1974, in Auckland) is a former rugby union footballer from New Zealand, currently working as coach. His usual position was at loosehead prop. He was a part of the New Zealand national rugby union team squad at b ...

Daniel Kirkpatrick Daniel Kirkpatrick (born 28 November 1988) is a New Zealand rugby union player. He currently plays for the in Super Rugby. He has also played for Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup. Prior to his 2012 move to France, he played for the Hurricanes in ...

Chris Masoe Chris Masoe (born 15 May 1979 in Savaii, Western Samoa) is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer, who last played for Racing Metro 92 in the Top 14 and a current professional boxer. He is the brother of boxer Maselino Masoe. He was bo ...

Cameron McIntyre Cameron McIntyre (born 3 June 1981) is a rugby union player who played for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup and for the Crusaders in Super Rugby. His time spent at Canterbury and the Crusaders saw him keep Andrew Mehrtens on the bench wit ...

Kees Meeuws Kees Junior Meeuws (; born 26 July 1974) is a New Zealand former rugby union prop and former assistant coach of the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, and also a real estate agent by trade and a painter by education. Meeuws played 42 ...

Kevin Senio Kevin Senio (born July 6, 1978) is a former New Zealand rugby union professional who most recently played professionally for ASM Clermont Auvergne. He is currently the head coach of Ponsonby Rugby club, based in Auckland, New Zealand. Senio is a ...

Sitiveni Sivivatu Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu (born 19 April 1982 in Suva, Fiji) is a retired New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs. He acquired a starting ...

* Gary Whetton * Karena Wihongi *

Rudi Wulf Rudi Wulf (born 2 February 1984) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for Lyon in the French Top 14. He previously played for Toulon and Castres Olympique. Wulf has also played for North Harbour in the Air New Zealand Cup and the Auck ...

Jannie Bornman Jan Bornman is a South African professional rugby union player. He currently plays at flanker for Castres in the Top 14. Honours Club Castres *Top 14 The Top 14 () is a professional rugby union club competition that is played in France ...

* Robert Ebersohn *

Darron Nell Darron Paul Nell (born 3 August 1980) is a South African professional rugby union player who most recently with the . His usual positions are flanker and number 8. Nell played rugby for the between 2002 and 2008, mainly appearing as a flanker ...

Pedrie Wannenburg Pedrie Johannes Wannenburg (2 January 1981 – 22 April 2022) was a South African rugby union player. He last coached for Austin Elite Rugby in North American Major League Rugby. He played for Austin in 2018, Denver Stampede in the now defunct P ...

* Dragoș Dima *

Adrian Lungu Adrian Lungu (born September 5, 1960) is a Romanian former rugby union player. He played 76 times as a center or wing for the Romanian national team. He is the father of Remus Lungu, who is himself a rugby union international. Born in Năvo ...

* Mihai Lazăr * Alexandru Manta * Kirill Kulemin *

Piula Faʻasalele Piula Fa'asalele (born 1988) is a Samoan professional rugby union player. He currently plays at flanker for USAP in the Pro D2 Rugby Pro D2, also known as Pro D2 is the second tier of rugby union club competition division in France. It is ...

* Laloa Milford *

Joe Tekori Iosefa Tekori (born 17 December 1983) is a Samoan rugby union international player. He currently plays for the Stade Toulousain in the Top 14 in France. He plays as a lock. Honours Castres *Top 14: 2012–13 Toulouse *Top 14: 2018–19, 202 ...

Freddie Tuilagi Fereti Tuilagi (born 9 June 1971) is a Samoan former professional rugby footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. After playing rugby union at international level, he turned professional and played rugby league for English clubs Halifax Blue Sox and ...

Romi Ropati Romi Ropati (born 20 June 1976 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a retired rugby union player best known for his time with the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise. Although born in New Zealand, he represented Samoa internationally and was a member of ...

* Max Evans * Richie Gray *

Glenn Metcalfe Glenn Hayden Metcalfe (born 15 April 1970 in Auckland)Glenn Metcalfe player statistics< ...

Gregor Townsend Gregor Peter John Townsend, (born 26 April 1973) is a Scottish rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Scotland national team having previously been an assistant coach from 2009 to 2012. As a player, he won ...

* José Díaz * Cedric Garcia * Pierre-Emmanuel Garcia * Rodrigo Capó Ortega *

Salesi Sika Salesi Sika (born 7 July 1980 in Haveluloto, Tonga) is a former Tongan-born American rugby union player and played as a wing or centre. Sika played professional rugby in the French league for Castres Olympique Castres Olympique () is a Fre ...

References

External links

*
Castres Olympique
Official website {{Authority control

Rugby clubs established in 1906 Sport in Tarn (department) 1906 establishments in France