Lyon Olympique Universitaire, known by rugby fans simply as Lyon Rugby or Lyon OU, are the pride of Lyon. They represent the city in the Top 14 and have battled in European competitions in recent years.
Read on to learn even more about Lyon Rugby. On this page, you’ll find all the latest news about the Lyon Rugby team. You’ll also be able to see the side’s upcoming fixtures and most recent results.
After successfully transforming Mathieu Bastareaud into a No8 in recent years, Lyon are hoping to have the same success with powerhouse Josua Tuisova, starting him in the pack against Stade Francais on Friday.
Former Leicester Tigers' back row Jordan Taufua will be remaining in France after extending his stay with Lyon in the Top 14.
Lyon Olympique Universitaire, known by rugby fans simply as Lyon Rugby or Lyon OU, are the pride of Lyon. They represent the city in the Top 14 and have battled in European competitions in recent years.
Read on to learn even more about Lyon Rugby. On this page, you’ll find all the latest news about the Lyon Rugby team. You’ll also be able to see the side’s upcoming fixtures and most recent results.
Heineken Cup Heineken Cup 
Heineken Cup | Round 0 | P | W | L | D | PF | PA | PD | BP T | BP -7 | BP | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-  Glasgow Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Sale Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Leinster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Scarlets | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Bordeaux | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Edinburgh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Toulon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Montpellier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  La Rochelle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Wasps | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Northampton Saints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Bath | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Toulouse | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Bristol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Connacht | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Ulster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Clermont | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Lyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Munster | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Racing 92 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Exeter Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Harlequins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Gloucester | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-  Gwent Dragons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Round 0 |
|---|
| - Glasgow Warriors |
| - Sale Sharks |
| - Leinster |
| - Scarlets |
| - Bordeaux |
| - Edinburgh |
| - Toulon |
| - Montpellier |
| - La Rochelle |
| - Wasps |
| - Northampton Saints |
| - Bath |
| - Toulouse |
| - Bristol |
| - Connacht |
| - Ulster |
| - Clermont |
| - Lyon |
| - Munster |
| - Racing 92 |
| - Exeter Chiefs |
| - Harlequins |
| - Gloucester |
| - Gwent Dragons |
The Lyon Rugby team was formed back in 1896. During the team’s formative years, it was known by several different names. Originally, it was known as Racing Club, because the formation of the Lyon Rugby team meant that local sides Racing Club de Vaise and the Rugby Club de Lyon were forced to merge. However, by 1902, the team had been renamed Racing et Cercles Réunis after several other clubs joined. A few months later, it became Lyon Olympique. Finally, in 1910, the club officially became Lyon Olympique Universitaire, which it has remained ever since.
In the history of Lyon Rugby, the side has finished as the Champion de France on two occasions. However, these titles are a distant memory for the Lyon Rugby team. In the 1930s, the side was the pride of French rugby. They won the title in 1932 and 1933, and finished as runners-up in 1931. During this period, they also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1933.
Xavier Chiocci Prop 
Vivien Devisme Prop 
Demba Bamba Prop 
Raphael Chaume Prop 
Joe Taufete'e Hooker 
Mickael Ivaldi Hooker 
Jeremie Maurouard Hooker 
Clement Ric Prop 
Hamza Kaabeche Prop 
Francisco Gomez Kodela Prop 
Felix Lambey Lock 
Izack Rodda Lock 
Etienne Oosthuizen Lock 
Killian Geraci Lock 
Colby Fainga'a Flanker 6 
Virgile Bruni Flanker 6 
Loann Goujon Flanker 6 
Patrick Sobela Flanker 7 
Dylan Cretin Number 8 
Alex Tulou Number 8 
Mickael Guillard Fullback 
Clement Ric 
Jonathan Pelissie Scrum half 
Baptiste Couilloud Scrum half 
Patricio Fernandez Fly half 
Leo Berdeu Fly half 
Jean Marc Doussain Fly half 
Jonathan Wisniewski Fly half 
Clement Laporte Wing 
Remy Grosso Wing 
Charlie Ngatai Centre 
Pierre-Louis Barassi Centre 
Mathieu Bastareaud Centre 
Thibaut Regard Centre 
Noa Nakaitaci Wing 
Josua Tuisova Wing 
Xavier Mignot Fullback 
Toby Arnold Fullback Since 2010, the Lyon Rugby team have flipped between the Pro D2 and the Top 14. For example, although the club was relegated from the Top 14 in both 2012 and 2015, they were promoted from the Pro D2 in 2011 and 2014.
However, since the side’s last promotion, they’ve regained their place in the Top 14 each season. Plus, in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, the side have reached the semi-finals of the competition. Due to the side’s success in the Top 14, they’ve also represented France in both the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup in recent years. However, the Lyon Rugby side is yet to get through the pools stage of either competition.
Now, because the club has a stable base in the Top 14, several high-calibre players currently wear the famous black and red of the Lyon Rugby team, including France prop Demba Bamba, Fiji wing Josua Tuisova and Argentina prop Francisco Gómez Kodela.
