Elite 2 (rugby league)

Elite 2
SportRugby league
Founded2002
No. of teams10
CountryFrance
Most recent
champion
Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII (2025–26)
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toSuper XIII
Relegation toNational Division 1
Domestic cupLord Derby Cup
WebsiteOfficial site

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 regular season runs from September/October to April. The clubs play each other home and away before entering into a series of play-off matches resulting in a Grand Final. The winners can gain promotion to Super XIII providing they meet a minimum criteria. Occasionally the runners-up could be offered promotion. Promotion to Elite 2 from the National Divisions is also based on similar criteria.

History

The Elite Two Championship was formed in 2002 when the French Rugby League Championship was split into two Elite One and Elite Two.

Teams for 2026–27 season

There are ten teams competing in the 2026–27 season.

Elite 2 (rugby league) is located in France
Carpentras
Salon
Tonneins
Occitania
Teams participating in Elite 2 in the 2026–27 season
Elite 2 (rugby league) is located in Occitanie
Ille-sur-Tet
Lescure
Palau
Pamiers
Realmont
Toulouges-Baho-Le Soler
Toulouges-Baho-Le Soler
Villegailhenc
Teams participating in Elite 2 in the 2026–27 season located in Occitania region
ClubStadiumCapacityCity/Area
RC Carpentras XIIIStade de la Roseraie5,000Carpentras, Vaucluse
Ille-sur-Tet XIIIStade Jean Galia2,000Ille-sur-Tet, Pyrenees Orientales
RC Lescure-Arthes XIIIStade de Lescure d'Albigeois2,000Lescure-d'Albigeois, Tarn
Palau XIII BroncosGeorges Vaills StadiumPalau-del-Vidre, Pyrénées-Orientales
Pamiers XIIIStade MagnagounetPamiers, Ariège
Realmont XIIIStade Claude AndreRealmont, Tarn
RC Salon XIIIStade Marcel Roustan2,000Salon-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône
Tonneins XIIIStade Jean BernègeTonneins, Lot-et-Garonne
Toulouges-Baho-Le Soler FalconsStade ClairfontToulouges, Pyrénées-Orientales
Villegailhenc-Aragon XIIIStade Municipal Conques sur Orbiel2,000Villegailhenc, Aude

Past winners

Year Winner Score Runner Up Ref.
2002–03 Sainte-Livrade XIII 25 – 15 UTC 2
2003–04 RC Carpentras XIII 14 – 10 UTC 2
2004–05 Marseille XIII 12 – 10 RC Carpentras XIII
2005–06 Le Barcarès XIII 25 – 19 Palau XIII Broncos
2006–07 Gifi Bias XIII 16 – 14 Racing Club Albi XIII
2007–08 Le Barcarès XIII 30 – 16 Montpellier Red Devils
2008–09 AS Corbeil 30 – 14 RC Baho XIII
2009–10 Palau XIII Broncos 18 – 12 Montpellier Red Devils
2010–11 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII 12 – 0 RC Baho XIII
2011–12 Palau XIII Broncos 34 – 17 Toulouse Jules-Julien XIII
2012–13 Palau XIII Broncos 26 – 22 RC Baho XIII
2013–14 RC Baho XIII 18 – 12 Racing Club Albi XIII
2014–15 Racing Club Albi XIII 21 – 14 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII
2015–16 La Reole XIII 20 – 16 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII
2016–17 Villefranche XIII Aveyron 13 – 10 RC Baho XIII
2017–18 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII 23 – 16 RC Lescure-Arthes XIII
2018–19 RC Baho XIII 35 – 20 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII
2019–20 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21
2021–22 Baroudeurs de Pia XIII 15 – 14 RC Baho XIII
2022–23 Ille-sur-Têt XIII 25 – 18 Villefranche XIII Aveyron
2023–24 Villefranche XIII Aveyron 37 – 14 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII
2024–25 Palau XIII Broncos 20 – 17 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII
2025–26 Villegailhenc-Aragon XIII 30 – 18 Palau XIII Broncos

See also

References

  1. ↑ "11 clubs to play in French Elite 2 Championship, Carcassonne sign Spanish International". Love Rugby League. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "The Elite 2 calendar season 2024-2025 with 9 teams". Treize Mondial. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ↑ "Treiziste Diary: Status quo in Elite 1, but changes being made to French lower divisions". Total Rugby League. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ↑ "Elite 2 Ranking – 2026/2027". Trieze Mondial. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "France Elite 2 Championship: Charts". Treize Mondial. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "Palau sacré Champion de France" (in French). FFRXIII. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Palau champion de France du suspense" (in French). FFRXIII. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "Les résultats du week-end" (in French). FFRXIII. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Une fête, une Coupe et un Planchot à Montpellier" (in French). FFRXIII. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  10. ↑ "Finale Elite 2 | La Réole XIII décroche le bouclier !" (in French). FFRXIII. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  11. ↑ "Elite 2 : le patient rouergat" (in French). FFRXIII. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Villegailhenc is French Elite 2 champion". Treize Mondial. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "In the chaos, Baho scored twice by beating Villegailhenc". Treize Mondial. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. ↑ "Pia Elite 2 champion with golden point against Baho". Treize Mondial. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "Ille triumphed at the end of the match against Villefranche and won the Elite 2". Treize Mondial. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Villefranche wins the title in Elite 2 by defeating the VARL". Treize Mondial. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Palau crowned France Elite 2 champion after its victory against VARL". Treize Mondial. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  18. ↑ "VARL takes its revenge and wins the French Elite 2 championship". Treize Mondial. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 7 June 2026.