The Baroudeurs de Pia XIII, later known as the Pia Donkeys, are a French Rugby league team based in Pia, Pyrénées-Orientales in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. The Baroudeurs play in the Elite Two Championship during their existence they were the reserve team of the Elite One Championship team SM Pia XIII (the original Pia Donkeys), until that team ceased competing in Elite One and the reserve Baroudeurs were absorbed under the SM banner. Home games are played at the Stade Daniel-Ambert.
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| Club information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Baroudeurs de Pia XIII | |
| Nickname(s) | Burros (donkeys) | |
| Founded | 1960 | |
| Current details | ||
| Ground(s) |
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| Coach | Thomas Valette | |
| Competition | Super XIII | |
| 2023–24 | 4th | |
| Uniforms | ||
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History
editThe club was formed in 2000 by the former successful top flight club SM Pia XIII to act as their official reserve side. The Baroudeurs, which translates as Fighters were one of the strongest clubs at their level. In season 2003/04 they reached their first league final in the National Division 1 but lost against Vedene XIII 6-42. The next two seasons brought more final heartache as they lost firstly against Salses XIII 20-36 and then to Villeneuve Tolosane 14–30, that season 2005/06 did bring some success when they won the Coupe Falcou to win their first trophy. 2006/07 brought relegation but the following season they registered a league and cup double. They beat RC Lescure-Arthes XIII 'A' in the league 30-6 and also lifted the Coupe Falcou for a second time. As a reserve side they wouldn't have been allowed to play in the same league as their first team and so when SM Pia XIII announced they were going to drop out of the top flight at the end of season 2012/13 the reserve Baroudeurs were absorbed under the SM banner. In the 2018–19 season the Baroudeurs returned to the Elite Two Championship.
Current squad
edit2022-23 Squad;
- Thomas Ambert
- Alan Baby
- Julian Berdu
- Windy Buche
- Bruno Castany
- Kevin Curto
- Maxime Da Costa
- Jean-Paul De Oliveira
- Baptiste Dubertrand
- Joan Guasch
- Alexandre Huescar
- Damien Huescar
- Marc Janicot
- Benjamin Jullien
- Mathias Marty
- Sylvain Masuaute
- Marvin Merbah
- Alexis Meresta-Doucet
- Joseph Paulo
- Ugo Perez
- Loic Rosemplatt
- Maxime Scimone
- François Therezin
- Florian Vailhen
- Dean Whare
- Valentin Zafra
Honours
edit- French Championship (4): 1995–96, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2012–13
- Lord Derby Cup (3): 1975, 2006, 2007
- National Division 2 (1): 2016–17
Records
edit- Biggest Victory: 126–4 against Carpentras in the 2005/2006 season of the Elite Championship.
- Biggest Defeat: 0–72 against Whitehaven in the 2006 Challenge Cup.