Rugby Club Suresnes Hauts-de-Seine

Rugby Club Suresnes Hauts-de-Seine: Team Updates

Rugby Club Suresnes History and Highlights.

Rugby Club Suresnes Hauts-de-Seine started as an educational institution rather than a professional rugby club. The club’s founder, Léon Dussert, felt the need for an institute that could instill social values and life lessons among the youth of Suresnes. Dussert saw rugby as the perfect vehicle to convey his message.

Léon Dussert’s Rugby School

In 1962, Léon Dussert created a rugby school that eventually became the club we know as Rugby Club Suresnes Hauts-de-Seine today. In Suresnes, rugby was mostly a school activity. In 1908, two Britons did start a multisports club named White Harriers, and it had a rugby section. But the club’s activities were vastly limited.

Dussert’s school became the blueprint of modern rugby schools down the line. His method of training and teaching is followed by many schools today. Later on, Dussert’s school evolved into a full-fledged rugby team.

Birth of Rugby Club Suresnois

After a stint in Puteaux, Léon Dussert’s rugby school returned to Suresnes in 1972 and merged with the local White Harriers team a year later. This union gave birth to the Rugby Club Suresnois in 1973. The club inherited the green and black colors that the White Harrier players used to wear.

Rebranding

In 1976, the club got a logo to complete its visual identity. The club players themselves designed the logo. The Monnier brothers and Mr. Saillard, in particular, contributed the most to the logo. The Monnier brothers drew the logo themselves, while Salliard got his eldest son to give his input to the process.

They drew a coat of arms in the green and black colors of the club. They also put a bunch of grapes there, which is reminiscent of the Suresnoise vineyards of Etienne Lafourcade. A saxophone was another important detail. It represented the Banda, the faithful supporters of the green and black.

The club has been playing at the Jean Moulin Municipal Stadium since 1975. It initially had only one field, made of sand, and no dressing room, forcing the players to go and change in the gymnasium across the street. Nowadays, however, there are three fields, changing rooms, a clubhouse, and offices.

1980: A Historic Year

1980 was a historic year for Rugby Club Suresnes as it made it to the third division. Within three years, the club secured second division promotion, but it dropped back soon after. RCS could not make it back to the division until 1992.

Return to Fédérale 1

The club acquired its current name, Rugby Club Suresnes Hauts-de-Seine, upon its return to Fédérale 1 in 2017-2018. Under the new name, the club finished the season in 9th place in Pool 4. The following season did not bring about any improvement as RCS finished 9th again in its pool.

Covid and Climb to Nationale

In the covid-interrupted 2019/20 season, Rugby Club Suresnes finished 3rd in Pool1. This achievement allowed the club to take part in the inaugural season of Nationale 1, which would serve as the bridge between the professional and amateur tiers of French Rugby.

The club finished only a spot above the final position, but it was lucky to avoid a drop to Fédérale 1. FFR decided not to relegate any team from the division in the 20/21 season. So, RCS lived to fight another day at the Nationale level.

Today

In the 21/22 season, Rugby Club Suresnes enjoyed a much better Nationale campaign. Out of its 26 matches, it won 11 and lost 15. The 60 points on board were enough for RCS to grab a ninth-place finish in the 14-team Nationale.

It was 12 points above RC Aubenas, which got the first relegation spot. On the other hand, Rugby Club Suresnes was only seven points away from Stade Niçois, which snatched the final playoff spot. RCS has made some great progress this season, and it can hope to build on that in the next season.