TOP 14
Lyon
News
Latest
TOP 14
Exclusive
Major plot twist in Sam Simmonds club tug-of-war
Fijian Drua's Iosefo Masi rumoured to replace Semi Radradra at Lyon
Lyon resigned to losing Davit Niniashvili to Top 14 rivals - report
TOP 14
Analysis
Top 14 Foreign Legion: All 213 overseas players by club and country
Red tape leaves Lyon's Semi Radradra stuck in Fiji – report
Lyon statement: Recruitment of New Zealand U20s boss Jono Gibbes
Matches
Sun 22 Dec, 2024
Forwards
Backs
Lyon Olympique Universitaire
Lyon Olympique Universitaire, known by rugby fans simply as Lyon Rugby or Lyon OU, are the pride of Lyon. They represent the city in the Top 14 and have battled in European competitions in recent years.
Read on to learn even more about Lyon Rugby. On this page, you'll find all the latest news about the Lyon Rugby team. You'll also be able to see the side's upcoming fixtures and most recent results.
The Lyon Rugby team was formed back in 1896. During the team's formative years, it was known by several different names. Originally, it was known as Racing Club, because the formation of the Lyon Rugby team meant that local sides Racing Club de Vaise and the Rugby Club de Lyon were forced to merge. However, by 1902, the team had been renamed Racing et Cercles Réunis after several other clubs joined. A few months later, it became Lyon Olympique. Finally, in 1910, the club officially became Lyon Olympique Universitaire, which it has remained ever since.
In the history of Lyon Rugby, the side has finished as the Champion de France on two occasions. However, these titles are a distant memory for the Lyon Rugby team. In the 1930s, the side was the pride of French rugby. They won the title in 1932 and 1933, and finished as runners-up in 1931. During this period, they also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1933.
Since 2010, the Lyon Rugby team have flipped between the Pro D2 and the Top 14. For example, although the club was relegated from the Top 14 in both 2012 and 2015, they were promoted from the Pro D2 in 2011 and 2014.
However, since the side's last promotion, they've regained their place in the Top 14 each season. Plus, in both the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, the side have reached the semi-finals of the competition. Due to the side's success in the Top 14, they've also represented France in both the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup in recent years. However, the Lyon Rugby side is yet to get through the pools stage of either competition.
Now, because the club has a stable base in the Top 14, several high-calibre players currently wear the famous black and red of the Lyon Rugby team, including France prop Demba Bamba, Fiji wing Josua Tuisova and Argentina prop Francisco Gómez Kodela.
