Le championnat de France de première division fédérale, a.k.a. Fédérale 1, is a Fédération Française de Rugby since 2000, when it replaced the B2 Group. The championship is contested between 48 teams and named in honor of the famous former FC Lourdes and French International player, Jean Prat.
2013–14 composition 2
Jean-Prat results (2007-08) 3
Play-down results (2007-08) 4
Promoted to Rugby Pro D2 (2007-08) 5
Relegated from Fédérale 1 (2007-08) 6
Jean-Prat Past Champions 7
The format is long-winded and includes many steps.
Preliminary phase
8 teams compete on a double round-robin basis (14 games) in each of the 6 groups. The top 4 teams of each group move into the play-offs (Trophée Jean-Prat), the bottom 4 move into play-downs.
Play-downs
The lowest ranked 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 4 groups of 6. Points scored in the preliminary phase are kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The top 2 teams of each group move on to a sudden death competition (quarter-finals, semi-finals, final), at the end of which an honorary title is awarded. The bottom 3 teams of each group (12 in all) are relegated to Fédérale 2.
The top 24 teams from the preliminary phase play another round-robin competition in 6 groups of 4. Points scored in the preliminary phase are not kept. Teams only play teams from other groups. The best four top clubs are automatically qualified for the quarter finals. The other two top clubs and the six n°2 clubs have to fight it out in a play-off game to get into the quarter finals. The two finalists are promoted to Pro D2 and play for the championship.
At the end of each season, two teams are promoted to Pro D2, and 12 relegated into Fédérale 2.
2013–14 composition
AC Bobigny Bobigny, Seine-Saint-Denis Pool stage
US Cognac Cognac, Charente Promoted from Fédérale 2
Stade Dijonnais Longvic, Côte-d'Or Pool stage
Lille MR Lille, Nord Semi-final
RC Massy Massy, Essonne Relegated from Pro D2
Montluçon Rugby Montluçon, Allier Pool stage
USO Nevers Nevers, Nièvre Quarter-final
Rugby Athlétic Club Angérien Saint-Jean-d'Angély, Charente-Maritime Pool stage
SNR Saint-Nazaire Saint-Nazaire, Loire-Atlantique Eighth-final
RC Vannes Vannes, Morbihan Pool stage
Pays d'Aix Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône Relegated from Pro D2
US Annecy Annecy, Haute-Savoie Promoted from Fédérale 2
RC Aubenas Aubenas, Ardèche Pool stage
RC Chalon Chalon-sur-Saône, Saône-et-Loire Pool stage
SO Chambéry Chambéry, Savoie Promoted from Fédérale 2
AS Mâcon Mâcon, Saône-et-Loire Eighth-final
US Romans Romans-sur-Isère, Drôme Quarter-final
US La Seyne La Seyne-sur-Mer, Var Eighth-final
ROC La Voulte-Valence Valence, Drôme Promoted from Fédérale 2
CS Vienne Vienne, Isère Pool stage
Stade Hendayais Hendaye, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Promoted from Fédérale 2
Stade Langonnais Langon, Gironde Pool stage
AS Lavaur Lavaur, Tarn Pool stage
Limoges Rugby Limoges, Haute-Vienne Pool stage
CA Lormont Lormont, Gironde Promoted from Fédérale 2
US Montauban Montauban, Tarn-et-Garonne Semi-final
CA Périgueux Périgueux, Dordogne Quarter-final
Stade Rodez Rodez, Aveyron Pool stage
Saint-Jean-de-Luz OR Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Eighth-final
SC Tulle Tulle, Corrèze Promoted from Fédérale 2
Stade Bagnérais Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Hautes-Pyrénées Pool stage
Blagnac SCR Blagnac, Haute-Garonne Pool stage
Avenir Castanéen Rugby Castanet-Tolosan, Haute-Garonne Eighth-final
SA Hagetmautien Hagetmau, Landes Pool stage
CA Lannemezan Lannemezan, Hautes-Pyrénées Pool stage
FC Lourdes Lourdes, Hautes-Pyrénées Pool stage
SA Mauléon Mauléon-Licharre, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Promoted from Fédérale 2
FC Oloron Oloron-Sainte-Marie, Pyrénées-Atlantiques Eighth-final
Tyrosse RCS Saint-Vincent-de-Tyrosse, Landes Quarter-final
Avenir Valencien Valence, Tarn-et-Garonne Eighth-final
Jean-Prat results (2007-08)
The first semi-final two-leg series of the Jean-Prat would see Périgueux face off against tournament favorites Colomiers. The first leg ended in a draw 12-12 with no tries scored and every point on the board put up by penalty kicks. In the second leg, Colomiers still couldn't manage to figure out Périgueux, but managed to eventually defeat them 9-6 to move on to the final.
The second semi-final two-leg series would see Aix-en-Provence against US Bressane (Bourg-en-Bresse). Mathieu Chabaud opened with a drop goal for US Bressane and it took Aix-en-Provence 20 minutes to respond with a try by Mohamed Berrabah. The match continued with several drops and penalties until US Bressane's Tsepo Kokoali scored a try in the 73rd minute. However, Aix-en-Provence sealed the first leg victory with another penalty kick making the final score 22-17.
US Bressane would show their class in the second leg by overcoming the odds and defeating Aix-en-Provence 14-3, allowing them to seal a place in the final based on the aggregate score. This assures promotion to Pro D2 for the 2008–09 season along with Colomiers.
On June 8, the final of the Jean-Prat took place. Colomiers struck early with a try in the fourth minute by Morgan Saout, but US Bressane's Mathieu Chabaud took 3 points back with a penalty kick 11 minutes later. The score at the end of the first half was 5-3 to Colomiers. Early into the second half, Pascal Vignard scored a try for Colomiers and Frédéric Pujo completed the following conversion that distanced the scoreline even more. With the match seemingly all wrapped up with less than 5 minutes to play, US Bressane caved and allowed 3 tries in that short time span. The final score 36-3 to Colomiers, the champions of Fédérale 1 in 2008.
Play-down results (2007-08)
The final between Lourdes and La Seyne was, for the majority, a defensive match and offensive struggle. The match ended with a low score as a result of this with a try by Stéphane Arriat for Lourdes in the 59th minute followed by a missed conversion. Then, in the 73rd minute, Sébastien Decarre scored a penalty kick for La Seyne that made the match final score 5-3, giving Lourdes the title.
Promoted to Rugby Pro D2 (2007-08)
US Bressane
Relegated from Fédérale 1 (2007-08)
Miélan-Mirande
Nice Rugby
Jean-Prat Past Champions
2014–15: Pays d'Aix RC
2013–14: US Montauban
2012–13: US Bressane
2011–12: US Colomiers
2010–11: AS Béziers
2009–10: US Carcassonne
2008–09: CA Lannemezan
2006–07: Stade Aurillacois
2005–06: UA Gaillac
2002–03: USA Limoges
2001–02: Lyon OU
2000–01: Oyonnax Rugby
Rugby union in France
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