Palau XIII Broncos also known as Palau XIII or Palau Broncos are a professional

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

team based in

Palau-del-Vidre Palau-del-Vidre (; ) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France. Geography Palau-del-Vidre is located in the canton of La Côte Vermeille and in the arrondissement of Céret. Population See also *Commu ...

in the Occitanie region in the south of

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. They currently play in the Elite 2 championship which is the second level in France. The club was founded in 1920. They play their matches at the

Stade Georges Vaills The Stade Georges Vialls is a rugby stadium in Palau-del-Vidre in France. Palau XIII Broncos the local rugby league team who play in the Elite 2 (rugby league), Elite 2 have, since their founding in 1920 always used the ground. The ground is na ...

History

In 1920 Racing Club Palauenc was formed as a rugby club. They were a feeder team for

USA Perpignan Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignanais, also referred to as USA Perpignan or Perpignan, is a French professional rugby union club founded in 1933 and based in Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. They compete in the Top 14, France' ...

. Their first silverware arrived in 1928 when they were crowned champion of France's 3rd series. The club switched to Rugby League in 1952 where they competed in the amateur 3rd Division. In 1956 they won the 3rd Division title – their first as a Rugby League club. In 2008 the club completed a league and cup double winning the Paul Dejean Cup and the

National Division 1 The National Division 1 is the third tier of rugby league in France, below the Elite 2 Championship and above the National Division 2. The season runs from September to April. The winner can be promoted to ''Elite Two'' subject to having adeq ...

league, after this success the club decided to move up to the semi professional ranks of the

Elite Two Championship Elite 2 (formerly the Elite Two Championship) is the second tier semi-professional rugby league competition in France below Super XIII, but above the National Division 1. The season runs from September to April. The clubs play each other hom ...

. After five seasons at this level in which they won the competition three times the club decided to move up to the top tier in 2013, promotion being optional. In July 2021, the club withdrew from the Elite 1 championship and moved down to the National Division. In the 2022–23 season Palau defeated Realmont XIII 46–12 to win the final of the Paul Dejean Cup and then won 23–20 against

US Ferrals XIII Union Sportive Ferrals XIII are a French Rugby league club based in Ferrals-les-Corbières, Aude in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The play in the National Division 1. They play their home games at the Stade de la Fontaine. History In 1 ...

in the National Division final and were promoted to Elite 2. The club runs successful youth teams and reserve team through which the club have produced many players top class players including former internationals Jacques Jorda, Julien Touxagas and David Berthezene

Colours and badge

Palau XIII Broncos play in red and yellow in various designs, the Broncos moniker was added following their successful promotion in 2008

Stadium

has been the only stadium ever used by the club. The ground is named after a former player of theirs who was born in the area. The ground is situated next to the River Tech and has one main stand. When visiting British clubs are in France to play the

Catalans Dragons The Catalans Dragons (French language, French: ''Dragons Catalans'', Catalan language, Catalan: ''Dracs Catalans'') are a professional rugby league club from Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales department, France. Despite being based in France the ...

they frequently use the ground to train on. The ground has hosted two youth Internationals between France and England, on 11 November 2009 France won 22-14 and on 3 June 2011 England won 28-19

Honours

* Elite Two (4): 1993–94, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2012–13 * National Division 1 (1): 2007–8 * 2nd Division (3): 1958–59, 1984–85, 1999–2000 * 3rd Division (3): 1955–56, 1987–88, 1989–90 * Division Federal (1): 1964–65 * Federal Cup Winners (2): 1984, 2001 * Paul Dejean Cup Winners (2): 2008, 2023

References

External links

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FFRXIII
1920 establishments in France Rugby league teams in France Rugby clubs established in 1920 Sport in Pyrénées-Orientales {{Rugbyleague-team-stub