Association sportive de Béziers Hérault (French pronunciation: [asɔsjɑsjɔ̃ spɔʁtiv bezje eʁo]; Occitan: Associacion Esportiva de Besièrs Erau), often referred to by rugby media simply by its location of Béziers, is a French rugby union club currently playing in the second level of the country's professional rugby system, Pro D2. They earned their most recent promotion as the 2011 Fédérale 1 champions,[1] but the club also won 11 Top 14 titles since its establishment in 1911.

France Béziers
UnionFédération Française de Rugby
Founded1911; 115 years ago (1911)
LocationBéziers, France
GroundStade Raoul-Barrière (Capacity: 18,555)
PresidentBob Skinstad
CoachDavid Irazoqui
LeaguePro D2
2024–257th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.asbh.net

Béziers was a major force in French rugby throughout the 1970s and 1980s; however, at the end of 2004–05 season they were relegated to Pro D2. After some years playing in the French second division, they finished bottom of the table in 2008–09 and were relegated to amateur Fédérale 1,[2] before returning to Pro D2 after their 2011 title. They are based in Béziers in the Hérault department of Occitania, and play at the Stade Raoul-Barrière (capacity 18,555). The club colors are red and blue.

History

edit

The club was established in 1911. Their first notable honour was being runners-up in the Coupe de France. However it would not be until the 1960s when the club began its rise to prominence. Béziers made their first championship appearance in the 1960 season. On 22 May they faced FC Lourdes in the final, losing 14 points to 11 in Toulouse. Béziers found mixed success during the 1960s following their first championship loss to Lourdes. The next season they won their first championship, defeating US Dax 6 points to 3 in Lyon. They were also runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir that season. They also contested the domestic championship in 1962, though they lost to SU Agen 14 to 11 in the final. Béziers performed well in the 1964 season as well; losing the championship final to Section Paloise, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir.

After the success during the early 1960s Béziers became a powerful club in the 1970s. In 1971 Béziers made it to the final of the domestic championship; defeating RC Toulon 15 points to 9 in Bordeaux. The following season Béziers captured the championship, defeating Brive 9 points to nil in Lyon, and winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well. The club won championships in 1974 and 1975, defeating RC Narbonne and Brive respectively, both times at Parc des Princes in Paris. They were also involved in the 1976 final, though they lost to Agen, 13 to 10. The following season they won the championship again, defeating Perpignan 12 to 4 in the final. They also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir as well.

The next season they successfully defended their domestic title; defeating ASM Clermont Auvergne 31 points to 9 in the championship game in Paris. They however did not win back-to-back Challenge Yves du Manoir titles; though they came close, being runners-up. The success continued in the early 1980s as well, winning the championship of the 1980 season, defeating Toulouse 10 to 6 in the final, as well as being Challenge Yves du Manoir runners-up that season. Béziers repeated this again the next season; actually defeating Toulouse in the championship final again, and were runners-up in the Challenge Yves du Manoir. They were champions again in 1983 and 1984, defeating RC Nice and Agen in the finals respectively. They also won the Coupe de France in the 1986 season.

Béziers returned to the professional ranks in 2011–12 following their 13–6 win over Périgueux in the 2011 Fédérale 1 final on 26 June. Both finalists were assured of promotion to Pro D2.

They struggled in their return season in Pro D2, finishing next-to last on the league table and well out of the safety zone. However, when ninth-place Bourgoin were forcibly relegated to Fédérale 1 for financial reasons,[3] Béziers remained in Pro D2 for 2012–13.

In October 2024, it was reported that a consortium made up of Irish businessman and TV personality Eddie Jordan alongside former New Zealand and South Africa internationals Andrew Mehrtens and Bobby Skinstad respectively, were forming a consortium to buy the club as part of a wider project to emulate the success of the City Football Group.[4][5]

Honours

edit

Finals results

edit

French championship

edit
Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
22 May 1960 FC Lourdes 14–11 AS Béziers Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37.200
28 May 1961 AS Béziers 6–3 US Dax Stade de Gerland, Lyon 35.000
27 May 1962 SU Agen 14–11 AS Béziers Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 37.705
24 May 1964 Section Paloise 14–0 AS Béziers Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 27.797
16 May 1971 AS Béziers 15–9 AP RC Toulon Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 27.737
21 May 1972 AS Béziers 9–0 CA Brive Stade de Gerland, Lyon 31.161
12 May 1974 AS Béziers 16–14 RC Narbonne Parc des Princes, Paris 40.609
18 May 1975 AS Béziers 13–12 CA Brive Parc des Princes, Paris 39.991
23 May 1976 SU Agen 13–10 AP AS Béziers Parc des Princes, Paris 40.300
29 May 1977 AS Béziers 12–4 USA Perpignan Parc des Princes, Paris 41.821
28 May 1978 AS Béziers 31–9 AS Montferrand Parc des Princes, Paris 42.004
25 May 1980 AS Béziers 10–6 Stade Toulousain Parc des Princes, Paris 43.350
23 May 1981 AS Béziers 22–13 Stade Bagnérais Parc des Princes, Paris 44.106
28 May 1983 AS Béziers 14–6 RC Nice Parc des Princes, Paris 43.100
26 May 1984 AS Béziers 21–21 SU Agen Parc des Princes, Paris 44.076

Challenge Yves du Manoir

edit
Date Winners Score Runners-up
1960 Stade Montois 9–9 AS Béziers
1961 Stade Montois 17–8 AS Béziers
1964 AS Béziers 6–3 Section Paloise
1972 AS Béziers 27–6 AS Montferrand
1973 RC Narbonne 13–6 AS Béziers
1975 AS Béziers 16–12 SU Agen
1977 AS Béziers 19–18 FC Lourdes
1978 RC Narbonne 19–19
(more tries scored)
AS Béziers
1980 Aviron Bayonnais 16–10 AS Béziers
1981 FC Lourdes 25–13 AS Béziers

French Cup

edit
Date Winners Score Runners-up
1950 FC Lourdes 16–3 AS Béziers
1986 AS Béziers 40–9 Stade Aurillacois

Current standings

edit
2025–26 Pro D2 Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Vannes 30 24 1 5 1092 543 +549 15 3 116 Semi-final promotion playoff place
2 Colomiers 30 21 0 9 847 522 +325 8 3 95
3 Provence 30 19 0 11 905 726 +179 9 7 92 Quarter-final promotion playoff place
4 Oyonnax 30 17 0 13 953 659 +294 9 9 86
5 Valence Romans 30 19 0 11 803 760 +43 4 4 84
6 Brive 30 17 1 12 906 642 +264 11 2 83
7 Agen 30 15 0 15 796 750 +46 9 3 72
8 Grenoble 30 14 0 16 739 829 90 2 4 62
9 Soyaux Angoulême 30 13 0 17 576 770 194 2 5 59
10 Biarritz 30 12 1 17 762 879 117 8 1 54
11 Dax 30 14 0 16 706 742 36 6 7 55
12 Béziers 30 12 0 18 657 804 147 4 4 56
13 Nevers 30 11 1 18 760 1024 264 4 3 53
14 Aurillac 30 11 0 19 718 908 190 2 7 53
15 Mont-de-Marsan 30 11 1 18 701 950 249 3 2 51 Relegation play-off
16 Carcassonne 30 7 1 22 572 985 413 0 5 35 Relegation to Nationale
Updated to match(es) played on 17 May 2026. Source:

Current squad

edit

The Béziers squad for the 2025–26 season is:[6][7]

Beziers 2025-26 Pro D2 squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain.
(vc) denotes vice-captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
Source: [6][7]
Beziers 2025-26 Espoirs squad

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Wings

Fullbacks

(c) denotes the team captain.
(vc) denotes vice-captain.
Bold denotes internationally capped players.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
Source: [6][7]

Notable former players

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. "Béziers sacré champion". L'Équipe (in French). 2011-06-26. Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. "Rugby - Fiche equipe Béziers - Calendrier - It's rugby".
  3. Moriarty, Ian (9 August 2012). "Bourgoin wilt under financial pressure". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 13 September 2012.
  4. Parker-Turner, Charlie. "F1 icon Eddie Jordan planning to buy new team and make them 'Man City of their sport'". Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  5. Lowe, Alex. "Eddie Jordan wants to buy London Irish – and make them Man City of rugby". The Times. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Effectif Pro". Association Sportive Béziers Hérault. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 "Béziers squad for season 2025/2026". All Rugby. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
edit