SERVETTE FEDERALE 1 CHAMPION!
Servette Rugby Club has done it! The Grenats have become French Fédérale 1 champions thanks to their 28-9 victory over Mauléon! After winning promotion to N2 a few weeks ago, the SRC have now added the F1 championship shield to their trophy cabinet! On Sunday June 16, 2024, SRC wrote another magnificent page in its history.
There are moments that mark the history of a Club. This Sunday, June 16, 2024, Servette Rugby Club created one of the most beautiful. The Servettiens won the Bouclier de Champion de France de Fédérale 1 by beating SA Mauléon 28-9. This victory crowned an extraordinary season in which the Genevois first validated their promotion to Nationale 2, the fourth tier of French rugby, before stringing together victories over Issoire and Mauléon to claim the French Fédérale 1 title!
It's been 10 years now since the Servette Rugby Club project was born. The challenge was huge: to develop rugby in Geneva! To do this, the ambition was to join the French championships and to perform in them. The aim was to offer the best possible playing conditions to players from the Canton and surrounding area. 10 years later, the Club's work is to be commended! Today, more than 300 players play for Grenat in the academy, the U23s and the national team. This work has also enabled SRC to put together a competitive team year after year, and to climb the ladder in one of the countries where rugby is king. In 10 years, the Servettiens have celebrated 9 promotions and, this Sunday, won their 3rd championship shield. Next season, they will be playing in Nationale 2, the fourth tier of French rugby - quite an achievement!
But to write this new chapter in the Servette Rugby Club's magical history, it was necessary to be assured on the pitch this Sunday against a strong Mauléon team. The match was played in Agde, by the sea in the south of France. Fans of both teams turned out in force to support their colors. In an atmosphere heated by the stakes, Servette RC and SA Mauléon moved forward slowly. The players from the South-West scored first with a converted penalty (0-3). But the Genevans hit back with a penalty converted by Willy Gonet (3-3). Both teams' defenses gave everything they had in the first half, and breakthroughs were few and far between. Willy Gonet gave his team the lead with another penalty (6-3). The Servettiens began to take the game by the scruff of the neck: dominant in the scrums, powerful in the rucks and enterprising on the mauls. The full range of Geneva's game enabled them to extend their lead at the 33rd minute thanks to a try from Steven Reinhard (13-3, converted by Willy Gonet). A final penalty just before the break made it 16-3.
In the second half, Mauléon came back strongly to try and take the game to their opponents. The South-Western team took advantage of some Grenat errors to score two penalties (16-9). But without panicking, Clémont Fromont's men let SAM's strong time pass and finished them off when they had the chance. To ensure their victory and show their total domination, Servette Rugby Club scored two further tries! Firstly from Steven Reinhard (60th, his second of the match), then from Jérémy Scalese (70th, successful conversion). The score went from 16-9 to 28-9, and the mass was said: Mauléon will never come back, Servette is Champion!
Thanks to the fans who made the trip to Agde, and to all those who have followed Servette Rugby Club throughout the season. Thank you to the players, staff, management and partners. This victory belongs to the whole Geneva rugby family.