Section Paloise
Section Paloise are Béarn’s club, three times champions of France and European winners in 2000. After years of rebuilding they are now among the Top 14’s front runners, and the Hameau has become one of the harder away days in the league.
Three Brennus Titles in Green and White
The club was founded in April 1902 as a multi-sport club, the Section paloise de la Ligue girondine, offering athletics and barrette, an early local form of rugby. It took the name Section Paloise in 1905 and moved to rugby in 1906. The first jerseys were blue and black, and green and white arrived in 1912.
Pau’s first French title came in 1928, when they beat Quillan 6–4 in the final in Toulouse. The second followed in 1946 with an 11–0 win over Lourdes at the Parc des Princes, and the third in 1964 against Béziers, again in Toulouse. The club also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1939, 1952 and 1997.
Europe, Pro D2 and the Way Back
In 2000 Pau won the European Challenge Cup, beating Castres 34–21 at the Stade des Sept Deniers in Toulouse. They reached the final again in 2005 but lost 27–3 to Sale Sharks, and relegation to Pro D2 followed. The way back took until 2015, when the Pro D2 title and promotion were sealed with a 31–5 win over Montauban. They have stayed in the Top 14 since.
Stade du Hameau
The Hameau opened in 1948 as a military stadium for the national military physical training school, and was officially inaugurated on 9 October 1949. The City of Pau took it over in 1983, and Section Paloise moved in at the start of the 1990s after leaving the Stade de la Croix du Prince. A €15.6 million rebuild in 2017 wrapped new stands around the pitch in a U shape and took capacity to around 18,000.
2026/27: Second in the Top 14
Sébastien Piqueronies runs the rugby side. Last season Pau finished fourth in the regular season with club records for wins, points and tries, before losing their home play-off to Racing 92 by 33–31. Five internationals came in over the summer, among them Baptiste Pesenti, Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer and Santiago Grondona, while Luke Whitelock retired and Dan Robson left for Gloucester. The targets are the play-offs and a Champions Cup place.
So far it is going to plan. A 35–26 home win over Castres on 10 October, settled by a try from Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang after the hooter, made it five wins from six. Pau sit second on 22 points and face Toulon on 24 October.
Robert Paparemborde
Green and White
Pau have worn green and white since 1912, replacing the blue and black inherited from the Stade palois. Home jerseys are traditionally white and away jerseys green, and a black and green strip is often used on the road as well.
This FanFile covers Section Paloise as a club rather than one particular jersey. Check the crest, sponsor, manufacturer label and product code on your own shirt to identify its specific season and edition.
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