Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne (pronounced [klɛʁmɔ̃ ovɛʁɲ]) is a French professional rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system. Clermont are two times French champions in 2010 and 2017. The rugby section is a part of a multi-sport club called AS Montferrand (also known as ASM Omnisports), which was founded in 1911 and adopted that name in 1919. Although the rugby section changed its name to the current ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2004, it is still frequently referred to as Montferrand both within and outside France.

ASM Clermont Auvergne
Full nameAssociation Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne
Nickname(s)Montferrand
Les Jaunards (The Yellow Guys)
Les Jaune et Bleu (The Yellow and Blues)
La Yellow Army
Founded1911; 113 years ago (1911)
LocationClermont-Ferrand, France
Ground(s)Stade Marcel-Michelin (Capacity: 19,372)
ChairmanMichelin
PresidentJean-Claude Pats
Coach(es)Christophe Urios
Captain(s)Baptiste Jauneau
Most appearancesÉric Nicol (437)
Top scorerGérald Merceron (2,704)
Most triesAurélien Rougerie (134)
League(s)Top 14
2023–248th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
[[1] www.asm-rugby.com/%20asm-rugby.com]]

The team play at the 19,022-seat Stade Marcel-Michelin, also known by its nickname, The Bib Park. Clermont wear yellow and blue, the colours of the French tyre manufacturer Michelin, taken from the colours of Montferrand when the firm was created there in 1889.

The city is where Marcel Michelin, the son of the founder of the French tyre manufacturer, decided to implement the first factory but also the stadium after the creation of ASM for its workers before World War I. L'ASM, as they are also called, have reached the French Championship final thirteen times, losing on each occasion until their eleventh trip in 2010, when they won the championship in their 100th year as a club.[1]

History

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Amateur era

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The club was established in 1911 as AS Michelin, though they changed their name to AS Montferrandaise in 1919 due to legal obligation. The club was started by Marcel Michelin, the son of André Michelin, the founder of the Michelin tyre manufacturer. He died in deportation at Buchenwald; he had been deported there as a member of the Resistance and was involved in two successful escape attempts before dying during the third.

The club made its first final of any competition in 1935, where they played Perpignan for the Challenge Yves du Manoir. AS Montferrand lost the match, 3–3 and 9–0. The following year they featured in their first championship final; though they lost to RC Narbonne 6 points to 3. They made the final again in 1937, though that match was also lost, 13 points to 7 to CS Vienne. The following season the club won its first title; winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir by defeating Perpignan 23 points to 10.

During the 1940s the club contested the Coupe de France on two occasions, in 1945 and 1947. The club lost on both occasions, by one point, 14 to 13 to SU Agen in 1945, and then 14 to 11 against Toulouse in 1947. It would be another 10 years until the club featured in another competition final; losing to US Dax in the 1957 Challenge Yves du Manoir. The club became a force during the 1970s, starting in 1970 with a 3 points to nil championship loss to La Voulte Sportif. The club then contested the Challenge Yves du Manoir twice in a row over the 1972–73 seasons; losing both finals, against AS Béziers and Narbonne respectively. Then they won the competition in 1976, defeating SC Graulhet 40 points to 12 just a few days after the death of the young international winger, Jean-François Philiponeau, struck on the field during an exhibition game. The club then contested the championship final in 1978, though they lost to Béziers. They also lost the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1979, against Narbonne.

In 1994 season the club contested both the French championship and the Challenge Yves du Manoir. They lost the Challenge Yves du Manoir to Perpignan (the third time the clubs had met in the competition final). They also lost the championship, defeated 22 points to 16 by Toulouse.

Professional era

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The club contested two finals in the 1999 season as well, the French championship and the European Challenge Cup. They won the European Challenge Cup, defeating fellow French club CS Bourgoin-Jallieu 35 points to 16 at the Stade Gerland in Lyon. However they lost the domestic final, being defeated by Toulouse again, 15 points to 11. The club would meet Toulouse again in the season final of 2001, with Toulouse winning 34 points to 22. In 2004 they contested the European Challenge Cup again, though they lost to English club Harlequins, by one point, 27 to 26 at the last minute.

The team experienced a hard period between 2002 and 2006 and it was only with the arrival of Vern Cotter, in the middle of 2006, that the team's form began to improve.[citation needed] In Vern Cotter's first year as head coach, Clermont reached their first final since 2001 (which they lost in the last minute against Stade Français), and won the European Challenge Cup against Bath at the Twickenham Stoop. Montferrand developed further under Vern Cotter during the following two seasons, but they lose two more finals against Toulouse in 2008, and Perpignan in 2009. But the team continues to bounce back and perform well years of years.

In 2010, in the Heineken Cup the team was drawn against Leicester Tigers and Ospreys in a tough pool. Despite this Montferrand succeeded in winning the pool and were subsequently drawn against the holders of the cup, Leinster Rugby. That was the beginning of what would become one of the greatest rivalries in rugby. In an epic battle, Montferrand lost 29–28. After this loss, they went on to win all of their remaining games to win the French championship against Perpignan (19–6) with a notably exceptional display during the semi-final against RC Toulon in Saint-Etienne.

In 2012 they reached the semi-final of the Heineken Cup. They were beaten by Leinster Rugby and were inches from winning the game at the end but Wesley Fofana dropped the ball on Leinster's try line.

Clermont reached the Heineken Cup final for the first time in 2013 after they beat Munster Rugby 16–10 in the semi-final in Montpellier. They subsequently lost to Toulon in the HEC final which was held in Lansdowne Road in Dublin on 18 May 2013 by a single point (16–15).

In 2014, Clermont reached the Heineken Cup semi-final of the play-offs for the second consecutive time and lost to Saracens.

2015 saw Clermont make it to the final of the European Cup (now European Rugby Champions Cup) but lost to RC Toulon 24–18. A few weeks later, they also lost the final of the French Top 14 against Stade Français 12–6.

2016 saw Clermont having their first blow in the European Rugby Champions Cup since 2011 by failing to make the quarter final after a late loss against Bordeaux at home. But they finally reached the French championship semi-final with a highly controversial lose against Racing 92.

However, the team bounced back and produced during the season 2016-2017, reaching again two finals in the French Top 14 and European Champions Cup. They lost the European Cup against reigning champions Saracens.

In January 2020, Clermont acquired a minority stake in the American rugby club New Orleans Gold. In addition to player exchanges, the teams will seek to facilitate cultural exchanges between the state of Louisiana and France.[2]

Honours

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Statue of Vercingetorix decorated with the flag of ASM Clermont Auvergne after the Top 14 championship of 2010.

Finals results

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Heineken Cup and European Rugby Champions Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
18 May 2013   RC Toulon 16–15   ASM Clermont Aviva Stadium, Dublin 51,142
2 May 2015   RC Toulon 24–18   ASM Clermont Twickenham, London 56,662
13 May 2017   Saracens 28–17   ASM Clermont Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 55,272

European Rugby Challenge Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
27 February 1999   AS Montferrand 35–16   CS Bourgoin-Jallieu Stade de Gerland, Lyon 31,986
22 May 2004   Harlequin F.C. 27–26   AS Montferrand Madejski Stadium, Reading 13,123
19 May 2007   ASM Clermont 22–16   Bath Rugby Twickenham Stoop, London 10,134
10 May 2019   ASM Clermont 36–16   La Rochelle St James' Park, Newcastle 28,438

French championship

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
10 May 1936 RC Narbonne 6–3 AS Montferrand Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 25,000
2 May 1937 CS Vienne 13–7 AS Montferrand Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 17,000
17 May 1970 La Voulte Sportif 3–0 AS Montferrand Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 35,000
28 May 1978 AS Béziers 31–9 AS Montferrand Parc des Princes, Paris 42,004
28 May 1994 Stade Toulousain 22–16 AS Montferrand Parc des Princes, Paris 48,000
29 May 1999 Stade Toulousain 15–11 AS Montferrand Stade de France, Saint-Denis 78,000
9 June 2001 Stade Toulousain 34–22 AS Montferrand Stade de France, Saint-Denis 78,000
9 June 2007 Stade Français 23–18 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,654
28 June 2008 Stade Toulousain 26–20 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,275
6 June 2009 USA Perpignan 22–13 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,205
29 May 2010 ASM Clermont 19–6 USA Perpignan Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,262
13 June 2015 Stade Français 12–6 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,000
4 June 2017 ASM Clermont 22–16 RC Toulon Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,771
15 June 2019 Stade Toulousain 24–18 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,786

Challenge Yves du Manoir

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Date Winners Score Runners-up
1935 USA Perpignan 3–3, 6–0 AS Montferrand
1938 AS Montferrand 23–10 USA Perpignan
1957 US Dax 6–6* AS Montferrand
1972 AS Béziers 27–6 AS Montferrand
1976 AS Montferrand 40–12 SC Graulhet
1979 RC Narbonne 9–7 AS Montferrand
1985 RC Nice 21–16 AS Montferrand
1986 AS Montferrand 22–15 FC Grenoble
1994 USA Perpignan 18–3 AS Montferrand

* Note: by virtue of younger players

French Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up
1945 SU Agen 14–13 AS Montferrand
1947 Stade Toulousain 14–11 AS Montferrand

Current standings

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2024–25 Top 14 Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Bordeaux Bègles 6 5 0 1 236 139 +97 33 19 2 1 23 Playoffs and Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup
2 Toulouse 6 4 0 2 181 114 +67 21 13 2 2 20
3 La Rochelle 6 4 0 2 162 150 +12 22 18 2 0 18
4 Lyon 6 4 0 2 171 162 +9 19 19 1 0 17
5 Toulon 6 3 0 3 137 117 +20 14 14 1 2 15
6 Pau 6 3 0 3 156 170 −14 20 21 2 1 15
7 Castres 6 3 0 3 178 166 +12 20 17 1 2 15 Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup
8 Clermont 6 3 0 3 121 149 −28 14 16 2 0 14
9 Racing 92 6 3 0 3 160 150 +10 18 17 0 2 14 Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Challenge Cup
10 Bayonne 6 3 0 3 152 160 −8 18 20 1 1 14
11 Montpellier 6 2 0 4 132 134 −2 13 13 0 2 10
12 Perpignan 6 2 0 4 94 153 −59 9 18 1 1 10
13 Stade Français 6 2 0 4 118 176 −58 13 23 0 1 9 Qualification for Relegation play-off
14 Vannes 6 1 0 5 146 204 −58 18 24 0 3 7 Relegation to Pro D2
Updated to match(es) played on 13 October 2024. Source: Top 14


Current squad

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The Clermont squad for the 2024–25 season is:[3][4]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Folau Fainga'a Hooker   Australia
Étienne Fourcade Hooker   France
Barnabé Massa Hooker   France
Giorgi Akhaladze Prop   Georgia
Michael Ala'alatoa Prop   Australia
Étienne Falgoux Prop   France
Sacha Lotrian Prop   France
Régis Montagne Prop   France
Cristian Ojovan Prop   Moldova
Thomas Ceyte Lock   France
Thibaud Lanen Lock   France
Oskar Rixen Lock   Germany
Rob Simmons Lock   Australia
Lucas Dessaigne Back row   France
Alexandre Fischer Back row   France
Pita Gus Sowakula Back row   New Zealand
Marcos Kremer Back row   Argentina
Fritz Lee Back row   Samoa
Killian Tixeront Back row   France
Peceli Yato Back row   Fiji
Player Position Union
Sébastien Bézy Scrum-half   France
Baptiste Jauneau Scrum-half   France
Enzo Sanga Scrum-half   France
Anthony Belleau Fly-half   France
Benjamin Urdapilleta Fly-half   Argentina
Léon Darricarrère Centre   France
Pierre Fouyssac Centre   France
George Moala Centre   Tonga
Irae Simone Centre   Australia
Bautista Delguy Wing   Argentina
Joris Jurand Wing   France
Alivereti Raka Wing   France
Lucas Tauzin Wing   France
Kylan Hamdaoui Fullback   France
Alex Newsome Fullback   Australia

Espoirs squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Irakli Usubyan Hooker   Georgia
Thomas Duchene Prop   France
Levan Ezieshvili Prop   Georgia
Matheo Frisach Prop   France
Jean-Yves Liufau Prop   France
River Tukino Prop   New Zealand
Giga Tutisani Prop   Georgia
Rémy Lanen Lock   France
Tom Belkessa Back row   France
Baptiste Britz Back row   France
Antoine Chalus Back row   France
Giorgi Gergedava Back row   Georgia
Piero Gritti Back row   Italy
Player Position Union
Jules Bousquet Scrum-half   France
Theo Giral Fly-half   France
Loukas Guilhot Fly-half   France
Mathys Belaubre Centre   France
Yerim Fall Centre   France
Gaspard Robbe Centre   France
Beltran Ortega Wing   Spain
François Carlo Mey Fullback   Italy

Notable former players

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Couret, Jean-Paul (30 May 2010). "Clermont beat Perpignan to end 10-final jinx in Top 14". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  2. ^ Williams, Bob (30 January 2020). "Austin MLR team gains new name and owners, NOLA Gold partners with Clermont Auvergne". SportBusiness. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  3. ^ "Effectif" (in French). 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Clermont squad for season 2023/2024". All Rugby. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
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