Sporting Olympique Avignon
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| Club information | ||
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| Full name | Sporting Olympique Avignon | |
| Nickname(s) | Bisons | |
| Website | Official Site | |
| Founded | 1916 | |
| Current details | ||
| Ground(s) |
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| CEO | Philippe Duclaux | |
| Chairman | Frederic Bissiere and Eric Garzino | |
| Coach | Renaud Guigue | |
| Manager | Philippe Jean | |
| Competition | Elite One Championship | |
| 2015/16 | 6th | |
| Uniforms | ||
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Sporting Olympique Avignon also known as Avignon XIII or SO Avignon are a semi-professional rugby league team based in Avignon in the south of France. They currently play in the Elite One Championship. The club was formed in 1916 and they enjoyed their best spell during the 1950s when they lifted the Lord Derby Cup twice and reached two other finals as well as being runners up in the French rugby league championship. The club plays its home matches at the Stade Saint Ruf. The current head coach is their former player and ex French international Renaud Guigue
On March 16, 1916 Sporting Olympique Avignon were formed as a rugby and athletics club by Viscount du Tertre and Marius Bremond who would be the clubs first president and vice president respectively. After the war and when Rugby League could be played again in France following the Vichy government's banning of the game, SO Avignon decided to join Rugby League under the leadership of head coach and captain Francois Riviere. It was during the 1950s that the club would have its most successful period, they reached their first French rugby league championship final in 1957 while also lifting the Lord Derby Cup in 1955 and 1956 and being runner up in 1958 and 59, during this time they played in front of crowds of more than 10,000 and were well known for playing local youth players.
Since their boom years the club has experienced both highs and lows. They won the Lord Derby Cup in 1982 and again 1989. The youth team also lifted the cup in 1982 and in 1995 they completed a league and cup double under coaches Gerard Faure and Frederic Bissiere. It was during this time that their main stand at their ground caught fire as the club struggled both on and off the field, but thanks to Bernard Gayraud the club survived. In 1998 following their relegation to the Elite Two Championship they caused a major surprise by once again reaching the Lord Derby Cup final but lost to AS Saint Esteve.
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