Montpellier Rugby

Although the side was almost relegated from the Top 14 in 2007, the Montpellier Rugby team’s fortunes have been transformed since. For example, during the very next season, Fulgence Ouedraogo became the first Montpellier player to play on the French national rugby union team. Then, in 2010-11, the side finished in the play-off places of the Top 14 for the first time. As underdogs, they even reached the final of the competition after beating Castres and Racing Métro. Since then, the team have been a near-constant fixture in the year-end play-offs. However, although the Montpellier Rugby side have reached the final on two occasions, they’ve never been crowned as the champions of France in the professional era.

That said, the side have also been highly successful while representing France in European competitions. As well as winning the European Shield in 2004, they also won the European Rugby Challenge Cup in 2016. Now, the club regularly represent France in the European Rugby Champions Cup, although they’re yet to advance beyond the first knockout round.
Due to the team’s success in recent years, a number of international-calibre players currently represent the Montpellier Rugby team. They include South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis, France lock Paul Willemse and Georgia prop Mikheil Nariashvili.