Brive is a historical member of French rugby union, being one of the clubs that spent the most seasons in the top French domestic competition. Many great players, both French and foreign, played for the club currently headed by Simon Gillham , and the youth academy has a good reputation. The club was created on 15 March Before the Second World War, Brive changed from rugby union to rugby league but returned to union after the war.
It played regularly in the First Division, and established itself as the stronghold of rugby in Limousin but for many years its only title was a Second Division trophy won in Brive did not make it to the final of the First Division championship until Brive experienced a resurgence in the middle of the s, first in , when they made their first finals appearance since the mids in Paris. Brive however went down 20β13 to Stade Toulousain. It was their fourth losing final.
Only one club have lost more finals without winning one than them US Dax , on five. That year however, they won the Challenge Yves du Manoir , defeating Pau 12β6. Brive finally won a final, defeating the Tigers 28β9. On 22 February , Brive, as European champions, were pitted against Auckland Blues who had recently won the Super The French team were no competition to an extra powerful Kiwi side which won easily 47β They came close to capturing back-to-back titles, losing by just one point, 19β18 at Parc Lescure in Bordeaux.
Since then, however, the club has been in dire straits, as it was subjected to a punitive relegation to the second division in due to bad financial management. They bounced back two years later but have struggled ever since in the lower echelons of the league table, except in when they managed to qualify for the playoffs. In , after taking the sixth place of the Championship, the Black and White could participate in the Heineken Cup , but the competition was difficult for them, against the Europeans champions Leinster , Llanelli Scarlets and London Irish.
After difficulties and a relegation to the second division in , Brive returned to the Top 14 the following year, after defeating Pau. The Brive squad for the β24 season is: [ 4 ] [ 5 ]. Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. The following are players who have represented their country, players who have won a title with the club, players who have played a sufficient number of games to go down in the club history or players who came from the academy and have made a significant career in another team:.
