Origins and early development (1890–1928) Early roots of rugby in Pau and Béarn (1890–1902) Rugby football was introduced to the city of
Pau in
1888, after having developed in Paris,
Le Havre, and
Bordeaux. In the late 19th century,
physician and
hygienist Philippe Tissié settled in Pau, drawn by the climate and opportunities to develop physical education in the schools of this decidedly sports-oriented city. He introduced his teaching methods for Swedish gymnastics and sport, promoting regular physical activity among young people. At the beginning of the 20th century, Pau remained a popular destination for the
European aristocracy during the winter season. After an initial peak in visitor numbers in the
1880s, the city experienced a renewed period of growth between 1909 and 1911 with the construction of the
Boulevard des Pyrénées. English, American, Russian, Spanish and Prussian high society coexisted there, contributing to the international prominence of the city. Several public facilities were built during this period, including the
Funiculaire de Pau, designed to link the
railway station with the upper town. In this context,
barette, a local and simplified variant of
rugby football, developed rapidly, promoted by Philippe Tissié and the Ligue girondine d’éducation physique. The presence of a sizable British community already familiar with rugby football also contributed to its dissemination. Adapted to local playing fields and to school environments,
barette was incorporated into physical education programmes and gained widespread popularity. These factors explain the early development of rugby in the city, making Pau one of the historical centres of the sport in southwestern France. From 1889, the
Coquelicots de Pau, a sports association of the Lycée de Pau (later
Lycée Louis-Barthou), played matches at the
Champ Bourda against teams from neighbouring schools, such as the
Montagnards de Bayonne and
La Pyrénéenne de Tarbes. These school associations, promoted by Tissié, practised
barette between 1892 and 1903, when the discipline was banned. The first rugby club in the city,
Stade palois, was founded on 13 July 1899 by Louis d’Iriart d’Etchepare and former pupils of the lycée. Sometimes referred to by the local press as
Stade Béarnais, the club brought together young players influenced by the
Anglophilia that was fashionable in Pau during the
Belle Époque. From its inception, the club was affiliated with the Ligue girondine d’éducation physique founded by Tissié, under the leadership of captain Henri Sallenave. However, from October 1901, Tissié and the Ligue girondine, with the support of mayor Alfred de Lassence, gradually regained control of the club.
Formation of Section Paloise and early years (1902–1905) The
Section paloise de ligue girondine was founded on 3 April 1902 as a
multi-sports club within the
Ligue girondine, under the direct authority of Dr.
Tissié. Its first president was Dr. Pellizza-Duboué, nephew of Béarnese scholar Pierre-Henri Duboué and father of
Henri Pellizza and
Pierre Pellizza. From its inception, Section Paloise practised
barrette, a speed-oriented variant of
rugby football popular in the
early 20th century, supported strongly by Dr. Tissié. Several future French internationals, including , and made their debuts with the senior team.
Switch to rugby union and first competitions (1905–1914) From 1905,
Section paloise de ligue girondine abandoned
barette to compete in regional
rugby union championships, adopting the name
Section Paloise. Dr. Pellizza-Duboué was succeeded by M. Dulau, a tannery director. By 1907, the senior team won the Third Series championship and earned promotion to the Second Series, demonstrating the club's growing competitiveness under the guidance of former
Paignton RFC player . The
Stade de la Croix du Prince officially opened on 16 October 1910, with a 13–0 victory over Bergerac in front of more than 3,000 spectators.
Potter era and first internationals (1912–1914) By 1912, the club had adopted green-and-white as its official colours. Welsh
player-coach combined his role at the
Lycée Louis-Barthou with coaching duties, developing a side capable of challenging the dominant regional clubs, including
Aviron Bayonnais and
Stado Tarbes. The team featured a highly effective half-back pairing of and , and its organised forward pack and quick backline attracted large travelling support. By 1913, Section Paloise was recognised as one of the strongest sides in
southwestern France, with matches such as the 0–0 draw against 1913 champions Bayonne at the Croix du Prince drawing 12,000 spectators. During this period, became the club's first international, representing France in the
1914 Five Nations Championship, while Jacques Dufourcq joined the club after earning his first cap. The squad had begun to establish a clear playing style, blending a disciplined forward pack with a fast, running backline, laying the foundations for future success in French rugby.
Postwar reconstruction (1919–1926) Under the leadership of , Section Paloise entered a phase of reconstruction from 1919. The prewar attacking quartet had been decimated: was killed in the war, Pierrot was injured, Laurent Bergès had retired, and had moved elsewhere.
Roger Piteu established himself in the first team and became an international. The squad was built around prewar players such as Raymond Bonnemort and Louis Artigou, and war veterans from the 18th Infantry Regiment, including Pierre Elichondo and Louis Mauco, who had represented France in the
Inter-Allied Games. Section Paloise qualified for the
French Championship final rounds for the first time in 1922, reaching the pools of three (top thirty clubs in France). However, defeats at home to
Béziers and
Tarbes prevented advancement to the second stage.
First national breakthrough (1927) After four challenging seasons, Section Paloise qualified for the French Championship semi-finals in 1927. Led by
Albert Cazenave and
Robert Sarrade, the team topped its first-phase pool of five and then finished first among the Top 16 in the second phase, the only club with three victories in three matches. Section Paloise faced
Stade français in the semi-final in
Bordeaux, losing 12–0.
First French Championship title (1928) Section Paloise, under the leadership of , enjoyed a remarkable campaign in the
1927–28 French Rugby Union Championship. The team captured the regional
Côte Basque championship for the second consecutive year and topped its pool of five in the national championship. In the subsequent round of four, they secured victories over
Stade Français,
USA Perpignan, and
Lyon OU, before defeating reigning champions
Stade Toulousain 3–0 in the semi-final after extra time, courtesy of a decisive try.The final, held in
Toulouse in May 1928, pitted Section Paloise against
US Quillan in front of 30,000 spectators. Quillan, backed by industrialist patron Jean Bourrel, had assembled a formidable side by recruiting seven players from Perpignan—French champions in
1925 and finalists in
1926—and five internationals, including Louis Destarac from Tarbes. The final was tightly contested, but Section Paloise emerged victorious 6–4, securing the club's first
Bouclier de Brennus. Local newspapers hailed the achievement:
Le Patriote des Pyrénées noted how the Section players, nicknamed the "bérets" for their Béarnese heritage and
traditional headwear, overcame the "chapeaux" of Quillan, a reference to Bourrel's recruited squad. ''L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées'' also celebrated the triumph, highlighting the fervent support of approximately 25,000 Pau and Béarn fans, who watched their team play the final in white. Captain
Albert Cazenave led the side with distinction, supported by key backs and forwards including Georges Caussarieu, David Aguilar, Robert Sarrade,
Fernand Taillantou, and François Récaborde. The following season, 1928–29, Section Paloise was eliminated in the pool stage by
SBUC but retained the Côte Basque title for a second consecutive year.
Golden age and consolidation (1929–1964) Pre-war years and Challenge Yves du Manoir triumph (1930s–1939) Before the war, the Section Paloise won the
Challenge Yves du Manoir in the 1938–1939 edition against RC Toulon by a score of 5–0 after extra time, courtesy of a try by Desperbasque and transformed by the full-back Courtade.
Second French Championship title (1946) In 1946, the club was crowned French champions once again. Section Paloise won the
1945–46 French championship, defeating teams like
Toulouse and
Agen. Despite a lackluster start to the competition, Section overcame Stade Toulousain in the quarter-finals and
USA Perpignan in the semi-finals (6–3 after extra time), earning a spot in the final against local rivals
FC Lourdes in Paris. Despite entering the final on a 12-match winning streak, FC Lourdes were decisively defeated 11–0 at the
Parc des Princes in Paris.
National newspapers praised Section's cohesive and disciplined team, highlighting their physical and moral conditioning over individual "stars." Key figures of this victorious squad included , and captain .
Postwar consolidation and Moncla era (1950s) In 1950, Section Paloise narrowly missed the
championship final, losing by a single point to the eventual champions,
Castres Olympique. After reaching the French Cup semi-finals in 1951 losing against
archrivals Stadoceste Tarbais, the team claimed the
Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1952. In 1959, the signing of
François Moncla, a
Béarn native, French national team player, and former champion with
Racing Club de France, marked the beginning of a new era for the club, as he took on the role of captain for a younger generation of players.
Third French Championship title (1964) The rebuilding phase culminated in 1964, when Section Paloise captured their third French championship by defeating the formidable
AS Béziers 13–0 in the final of the
1963–64 French Rugby Union Championship. Stars of the squad included Moncla,
Jean Piqué,
Nano Capdouze,
Jean-Pierre Saux,
Marc Etcheverry, and
André Abadie. The season had started poorly, with one headline declaring "La Section en perdition" (Section in Perdition) after heavy losses to Agen and their rivals. However, the team turned their season around with victories over
Brive, Chalon, rivals
Bayonne, and
Narbonne, before triumphing over Béziers in the final. Jean Capdouze scored two tries in the 14–0 victory.
Jean Piqué, who lost his wife to
leukemia during the playoffs, played the final with a photo of her tucked into his jersey, a poignant moment that underscored the emotional weight of the victory.
Decline, restructuring and revival (1965–2006) The following seasons were less remarkable from a sporting perspective, with captain
François Moncla retiring at the start of the
1967 season. A significant shift occurred in 1968 when it was decided that the positions of General President and Rugby President could no longer be held by the same individual within the club. That same year, a young talent emerged from
Laruns in the
Ossau Valley, in the heart of
Béarn:
Robert Paparemborde. Initially starting his career as an
inside centre, Paparemborde later transitioned to
tighthead prop, where he became a global benchmark in the position. Another future star,
Laurent Cabannes, debuted at the age of 17 and would go on to be regarded as one of the world's finest
flankers. On the field, the first team experienced mixed fortunes. They narrowly lost 14–11 to
AS Montferrand in the
1970 quarter-finals and reached the semi-finals against Narbonne in
1974 after a surprise 24–21 victory over Agen in the round of 16. However, the team faced relegation, spending the
1977–78 season in Group B before immediately returning to the top tier. Section Paloise missed their chance to uphold the
18-year rule (winning titles in
1928,
1946, and
1964), as they fell short in
1982, narrowly losing to SU Agen in the Round of 16. They reached the quarter-finals in
1983 but were defeated by
Nice. By the late 1980s, the team had endured two seasons in Group B and reached the finals of the category in both
1989 and
1990 but narrowly missed promotion. During this time, Section faced mounting challenges, struggling with both sporting results and economic difficulties.
Move to Stade du Hameau and revival (1990–1996) In October 1990, Section Paloise left its historic
Stade de la Croix du Prince for the more modern
Stade du Hameau. This move alleviated the club's financial difficulties, as the Croix du Prince was sold to the
Pau Town Hall. During the early 1990s, the team began to recover, maintaining its place in Group A in
1991 and
1992. In
1993, the club reached the Top 16 but failed to qualify for the quarter-finals, losing out to
FC Grenoble—who were controversially denied the title due to a refereeing error—and
RC Narbonne, who were playing their fifth quarter-final in six seasons. In
1994 and
1995, Section Paloise failed to return to the Top 16 and instead participated in the Moga Cup, ultimately losing the final to rivals
Aviron Bayonnais in
Mont-de-Marsan. The club began climbing the ranks again, achieving notable results in subsequent seasons. In
1996, Section reached the final of the
Challenge Yves du Manoir and the
semi-finals of the French championship, though they were defeated by CA Brive on both occasions. These performances secured qualification for the second edition of the
1996–97 Heineken Cup.
Challenge Yves du Manoir victory (1997) In 1997, Section Paloise won the
Challenge Yves du Manoir, defeating CS Bourgoin-Jallieu 13–11. Captain Joël Rey became the first Pau skipper since
François Moncla in 1964 to lift a trophy for the club, ending a 33-year wait. In the
1996–97 French Rugby Union Championship, Pau were eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing 24–18 to eventual finalists
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.
David Aucagne,
Frédéric Torossian, and
David Dantiacq were selected for the French national team that season.
Heineken Cup semi-finalists (1998) In the
1997–98 season, Section Paloise reached the
semi-finals of the
Heineken Cup. In the quarter-finals, Pau defeated the previous season's finalists
Leicester Tigers 35–18 at the
Stade du Hameau, with tries from
Cléda, Leloir,
Bernat-Salles, and
Brusque, and a total of six successful kicks from
David Aucagne. The club's European run ended in the semi-final at
Bath, losing 20–14 at the
Recreation Ground. Bernat-Salles scored Pau's only try, while Aucagne added three penalties. Bath went on to win the competition, narrowly defeating CA Brive in the final. The following season, Pau struggled after the departure of
Philippe Bernat-Salles, exiting early from the
championship, losing in the
Challenge Cup quarter-finals to Narbonne, and falling in the French Cup semi-finals to Stade Français.
Nicolas Bacqué earned international recognition.
European Challenge Cup champions (2000) In 2000, Section Paloise, coached by Jacques Brunel, won the
1999–2000 European Challenge Cup by defeating
Castres Olympique 34–21 at the
Stade des Sept Deniers in
Toulouse. Key players during this era included ,
David Aucagne,
Thierry Cléda,
Frédéric Torossian, and
David Dantiacq. Domestically, Section Paloise eliminated
AS Montferrand 28–27 in the quarter-finals of the
1999-00 French Championship but narrowly missed the final, losing 24–22 in extra time to
US Colomiers in the semi-finals.
Decline, merger project and financial troubles (2000–2006) At the beginning of the 2000s, André Lestorte, then president of Section Paloise, initiated an ambitious project to merge the club with the rivals from
Bigorre,
Stadoceste Tarbais and
FC Lourdes. The aim was to create a more powerful entity, named
Section-Pyrénées or ''Section Paloise – Pays de l'
Adour''. Inspired by the regional rugby models in
New Zealand,
Australia, and
South Africa, Lestorte saw this merger as an opportunity to strengthen regional competitiveness and compete with top clubs from
France's major urban centers. He envisioned a
Pyrenean club based between
Pau,
Tarbes, and
Lourdes, with a new stadium to be built in the middle, in line with the growing trend of more professional and elitist rugby. However, the project faced strong local opposition from both
Béarn and
Bigorre, with some fearing the loss of their clubs' identities. Despite Lestorte's enthusiasm, internal tensions slowed the advancement of discussions. In 2005, growing opposition, led by former presidents of Section Paloise, criticized his management. Eventually, Lestorte was replaced by Joachim Alvarez, and later by in 2006, who put an end to the merger project. Lestorte left his position amid disapproval, symbolized by acts of vandalism criticizing his project as a threat to local identity. The following year was challenging, with the league
reducing from 21 to 16 clubs. Despite reinforcement by international back-row player
Lionel Mallier and centre
Jean-Charles Cistacq, the club only secured eight wins out of 18 matches and narrowly avoided relegation by defeating
FC Grenoble 33–21 after extra time in a play-off match at
Béziers. The team performed more strongly in the
2001–02 Heineken Cup, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to
Stade Français. Despite staying in the top division, Section Paloise lost several key players during the off-season, including international fullback
Nicolas Brusque, who joined
Biarritz Olympique, and
Lionel Mallier, who moved to
USA Perpignan. Promising youngsters
Lionel Beauxis and
Fabien Cibray were closely monitored, and the club extended long-term contracts for its rising stars at the
Stade du Hameau. From 2003 onwards, Beauxis was integrated into the professional squad alongside
Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet. In 2003 Peyras-Loustalet was named as the
IRB International U19 Player of the Year. The club managed a notable playoff qualification in
2003. At the start of the
2003–04 Top 16 season, Beauxis was fully part of the first-team setup. However, due to his age, he could not debut in the first team until the end of October 2003, much to the frustration of coach Jean-Philippe Cariat. Beauxis made his debut on 22 November 2003, in a friendly against
AS Béziers at the
Stade de la Méditerranée, replacing his childhood idol,
David Aucagne. The following week, Beauxis played his first competitive match in the league at
Stade Amédée-Domenech, where he scored 19 points and excelled against his direct opponent, veteran
fly-half Alain Penaud. The team faced significant financial troubles and lost
Damien Traille and
Imanol Harinordoquy to
Biarritz Olympique in 2004. Despite these challenges, Section Paloise often fought to secure its top-flight status, with a strong run in the
2004–05 European Challenge Cup. They reached the final under the captaincy of
Jean-Charles Cistacq but were ultimately defeated by the
Sale Sharks, led by
Sébastien Bruno, a former Section Paloise hooker.
Relegation and road back (2006–2015) Relegation to Pro D2 and rebuilding (2006–2011) However, due to ongoing financial difficulties, Section Paloise was relegated during the
2005–06 Top 16 season under controversial circumstances on the final day of the competition against Castres. In a situation where a try could have saved the club from relegation, Beauxis attempted a
drop goal, which he missed. The players, including the senior members, supported Beauxis, as they were unaware of the score of
Aviron Bayonnais. Beauxis had simply followed instructions from the sidelines. Beauxis became a scapegoat, especially for Pierre Bouisset, the general manager who briefly became the coach mid-season. Bouisset publicly stated in a press conference that it was "a youthful mistake." While Cibray remained for another season in
Pro D2, Beauxis left the club reluctantly after a difficult period marked by sleepless nights.
Promotion battles in Pro D2 (2011–2014) The arrival of a new president, Bernard Pontneau, marked a significant turning point for the club, requiring adjustments to policies and strategies. Efforts to stabilize the club led to internal reorganizations, which temporarily disrupted the coherence of the organization and the sporting ambitions. Following Section Paloise's relegation to
Pro D2, the club faced a period of transition and adjustment. The new governance, led by Bernard Pontneau, took office in November 2006 with the goal of rebuilding and returning the club to the
top tier of French rugby. During this stormy period, Bernard Pontneau asserted his vision for the club, emphasizing that he would not attempt to erase past conflicts but rather seek to overcome them. Off the field, key figures such as emerged, bringing their expertise and experience. With the arrival of new players and the commitment of a solid technical staff, including
David Aucagne, Section Paloise eventually regained its stability. The club's ambition to return to the elite of French rugby was reignited in the
2011–12 Pro D2 season. After finishing second in the league and remaining unbeaten at home, Section Paloise secured a place in the promotion playoffs, defeating
Stade Rochelais 16–14 in the semi-finals at the
Stade du Hameau. However, they lost 29–20 in the final against
Stade Montois at
Stade Chaban-Delmas in
Bordeaux. In the
2012–13 Rugbuy Pro D2 season, the club again qualified for the semi-finals against La Rochelle, and the final of the promotion playoffs for the Top 14. On this occasion, supporters' clubs, partners, and various corporate committees organized the journey, with no fewer than 142 buses making the trip to
Stade Chaban-Delmas. However, Section Paloise was again defeated at this stage of the competition, losing 30–10 to
CA Brive in front of 33,175 spectators.
Pro D2 champions and return to Top 14 (2015) After another disappointment the
following season against La Rochelle, losing 35–18 in the semi-finals at
Stade Marcel-Deflandre, the club made strong moves in recruitment for the upcoming season, bringing in a new manager,
Simon Mannix. The New Zealander, who joined from
Munster, settled in
Béarn with his video analyst from
Munster, Elliot Corcoran, and Irish back-row forward
James Coughlan, who would go on to become one of the club's standout players of the season.
Damien Traille rejoined the Section after more than a decade following his departure, adding experience and leadership to the squad. They set a record by winning the first 8 league matches. A key figure in the club's return to the top flight, Mannix brought a disciplined, New Zealand-style approach to the team. He focused on shorter, more intense training sessions, fostering a strong sense of focus and resilience. The club secured its promotion on 11 April 2015, clinching the
Pro D2 title with a 31–5 victory over
US Montauban, four matches before the end of the season, guaranteeing direct promotion to the
Top 14. As soon as the season ended, Simon Mannix used his extensive network to bring in high-profile players such as
Colin Slade,
Carl Hayman and
Conrad Smith, widely regarded as one of the best centres in the world.
Thibault Daubagna made his debut for the club.
Stability and European ambitions Top 14 consolidation (2016–2019) Following their return to the
Top 14, Pau finished 11th in the
2016 season and 9th in the
2017 season, narrowly missing out on
European Rugby Champions Cup qualification. In 2018, they improved to 8th place and reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, but the following year slipped back to 11th in the league and 3rd in their Challenge Cup pool. Mannix was dismissed in 2019 after five seasons, when a string of poor results convinced the board to part ways.
Pandemic years and transition (2020–2021) Nicolas Godignon and Frédéric Manca took over as head coach for the
2019–20 season, that was abandoned due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The championship was suspended on 13 March 2020 and terminated on 30 April, with no title awarded and no promotion or relegation. At the time of suspension, Pau were in 12th place. In the
2020–21 season, Pau again finished 12th. The campaign was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused several fixtures to be postponed and affected squad availability. Early promise was tempered by a run of defeats, including a red card–marred loss to Brive and heavy defeats to Clermont, Toulon, and Castres. Emerging talents, such as 18-year-old
Thibault Debaes, made their debuts, while club icon played the final matches of his 310-game career with the club. Pau secured their Top 14 status with a crucial win over Montpellier in the final round. Staff changes included the temporary stepping back of managers Nicolas Godignon and Frédéric Manca and the mid-season departure of
Conrad Smith.
Sébastien Piqueronies, initially appointed as manager for the following season, joined the staff early on 1 May 2021.
Piqueronies era: youth development and stability (2021–2023) After several years under New Zealand-born
Simon Mannix, during which Section Paloise recruited high-profile former
All Blacks such as
Slade,
Hayman,
Conrad Smith or
Ben Smith, the club shifted towards a long-term strategy focused on youth development.
Sébastien Piqueronies, who had guided
France to consecutive
World Rugby U20 Championship titles in
2018 and
2019, was appointed to lead this new direction. The
2021–22 season saw modest progress, with a 10th-place Top 14 finish and elimination at the pool stage of the Challenge Cup. Lock
Hugo Auradou became a key figure, while
Antoine Hastoy departed after 12 years, replaced by former
Exeter Chiefs captain
Joe Simmonds. The club began integrating young talent, with Piqueronies prioritising homegrown development over high-profile signings. At the end of the season, the young international fly-half
Antoine Hastoy, who had spent 12 years at the club from youth level through to the professional side, departed for
La Rochelle. He was replaced by former
Exeter Chiefs captain
Joe Simmonds. At the start of the
2022–23 Top 14 season, Pau strengthened their squad with the signings of
Émilien Gailleton from Agen and prospect
Théo Attissogbe. The campaign was marked by inconsistency, with new fly-half Joe Simmonds directing a youthful backline. Pau finished 12th in the Top 14 and again failed to progress from their Challenge Cup pool, but the season saw the emergence of teenage centre Émilien Gailleton, who scored 14 tries in 24 matches to finish as the league's top try-scorer, earning the attention of France head coach
Fabien Galthié.
Whitelock arrival and first Champions Cup qualification (2023–2025) The
2023–24 season got off to a strong start, with Section briefly topping the table in the first half of the campaign, powered by the form of
Joe Simmonds,
Jack Maddocks,
Théo Attissogbe, and
Hugo Auradou. However, following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the team's form dipped, and they eventually finished 9th, missing out on
European Rugby Champions Cup qualification by just one point. After the World Cup, All Blacks legend
Sam Whitelock joined Pau, lining up alongside his younger brother
Luke Whitelock, the club captain. Whitelock, the
All Blacks' most-capped player and a two-time
Rugby World Cup champion, brought leadership and experience to the pack, mentoring the young Auradou and setting standards both on and off the field. After several concussions, Whitelock announced his retirement at the end of the season. The
2024–25 season marked a high point for Pau, with the club achieving its best finish of the professional era by placing 8th and qualifying for the
European Rugby Champions Cup for the first time since 2001. The campaign was disrupted by numerous injuries to key players, limiting opportunities to field a consistent starting XV. Despite this, centre
Fabien Brau-Boirie emerged as a promising talent, earning his first call-up to train with the French national squad, while long-serving scrum-half and club stalwart
Thibault Daubagna won two caps on
France's 2025 tour of New Zealand.
Looking ahead (2025–) The
2025–26 season begins with relatively few changes to the squad. The team is built around a youthful and attacking backline featuring
Théo Attissogbé, Olympic sevens gold medallist
Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang,
Émilien Gailleton and
Fabien Brau-Boirie, and is guided at fly-half by
Joe Simmonds and at scrum-half by veterans
Thibault Daubagna and
Dan Robson. Some pundits nevertheless regard the side as lacking forward power in the previous season, despite their attacking flair. To address this, notable signings include tight-head prop
Thomas Laclayat, Argentina captain
Julián Montoya, Argentina international
Facundo Isa, and Moroccan hooker Hayam El Bibouji. Building on the foundations established under
Piqueronies since 2021, Section Paloise aim to challenge for a Top 14 play-off place and re-establish themselves in European competition after nearly a quarter of a century. == Club culture ==