 | |||
| Full name | Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Montferrand Les Jaunards (The Yellow Guys) Les Jaune et Bleu (The Yellow and Blues) La Yellow Army | ||
| Founded | 11 October 1911; 114 years ago (1911-10-11) | ||
| Location | Clermont-Ferrand, France | ||
| Ground | Stade Marcel-Michelin (Capacity: 19,372) | ||
| Chairman | Michelin | ||
| President | Jean-Claude Pats | ||
| Coach | Christophe Urios | ||
| Captain | Baptiste Jauneau | ||
| Most appearances | Éric Nicol (437) | ||
| Top scorer | Gérald Merceron (2,704) | ||
| Most tries | Aurélien Rougerie (134) | ||
| League | Top 14 | ||
| 2024–25 | 6th | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne (pronounced[klɛʁmɔ̃ovɛʁɲ]) is a French professionalrugby union club fromClermont-Ferrand inAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes that currently competes inTop 14, the top level of theFrench league system. Clermont are two times French champions in2010 and2017. The rugby section is a part of a multi-sport club calledAS Montferrand (also known as ASM Omnisports), which was founded in 1911 and adopted that name in 1919. Although the rugby section changed its name to the current ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2004, it is still frequently referred to asMontferrand both within and outside France.
The team play at the 19,022-seatStade Marcel-Michelin, also known by its nickname, The Bib Park. Clermont wear yellow and blue, the colours of the French tyre manufacturerMichelin, taken from the colours of Montferrand when the firm was created there in 1889.
The city is where Marcel Michelin, the son of the founder of the French tyre manufacturer, decided to implement the first factory but also the stadium after the creation of ASM for its workers before World War I.L'ASM, as they are also called, have reached the French Championship final thirteen times, losing on each occasion until their eleventh trip in2010, when they won the championship in their 100th year as a club.[1]
The club was established in 1911 as ASMichelin, though they changed their name to AS Montferrandaise in 1922 due to legal obligation. The club was started by Marcel Michelin, the son ofAndré Michelin, the founder of the Michelin tyre manufacturer. He died in deportation at Buchenwald; he had been deported there as a member of the Resistance and was involved in two successful escape attempts before dying during the third.
The club made its first final of any competition in 1935, where they playedPerpignan for theChallenge Yves du Manoir. AS Montferrand lost the match, 3–3 and 9–0. The following year they featured in their first championship final; though they lost toRC Narbonne 6 points to 3. They made the final again in 1937, though that match was also lost, 13 points to 7 toCS Vienne. The following season the club won its first title; winning the Challenge Yves du Manoir by defeating Perpignan 23 points to 10.
During the 1940s the club contested theCoupe de France on two occasions, in 1945 and 1947. The club lost on both occasions, by one point, 14 to 13 toSU Agen in 1945, and then 14 to 11 againstToulouse in 1947. It would be another 10 years until the club featured in another competition final; losing toUS Dax in the 1957 Challenge Yves du Manoir. The club became a force during the 1970s, starting in 1970 with a 3 points to nil championship loss toLa Voulte Sportif. The club then contested the Challenge Yves du Manoir twice in a row over the 1972–73 seasons; losing both finals, againstAS Béziers and Narbonne respectively. Then they won the competition in 1976, defeatingSC Graulhet 40 points to 12 just a few days after the death of the young international winger, Jean-François Philiponeau, struck on the field during an exhibition game. The club then contested the championship final in 1978, though they lost to Béziers. They also lost the Challenge Yves du Manoir in 1979, against Narbonne.
In 1994 season the club contested both the French championship and the Challenge Yves du Manoir. They lost the Challenge Yves du Manoir to Perpignan (the third time the clubs had met in the competition final). They also lost the championship, defeated 22 points to 16 by Toulouse.
The club contested two finals in the 1999 season as well, the French championship and theEuropean Challenge Cup. They won the European Challenge Cup, defeating fellow French clubCS Bourgoin-Jallieu 35 points to 16 at the Stade Gerland in Lyon. However they lost the domestic final, being defeated by Toulouse again, 15 points to 11. The club would meet Toulouse again in the season final of 2001, with Toulouse winning 34 points to 22. In 2004 they contested the European Challenge Cup again, though they lost to English clubHarlequins, by one point, 27 to 26 at the last minute.
The team experienced a hard period between 2002 and 2006 and it was only with the arrival of Vern Cotter, in the middle of 2006, that the team's form began to improve.[citation needed] In Vern Cotter's first year as head coach, Clermont reached their first final since 2001 (which they lost in the last minute against Stade Français), and won the European Challenge Cup against Bath at the Twickenham Stoop.Montferrand developed further under Vern Cotter during the following two seasons, but they lose two more finals against Toulouse in 2008, and Perpignan in 2009. But the team continues to bounce back and perform well years of years.
In 2010, in the Heineken Cup the team was drawn against Leicester Tigers and Ospreys in a tough pool. Despite this Montferrand succeeded in winning the pool and were subsequently drawn against the holders of the cup, Leinster Rugby. That was the beginning of what would become one of the greatest rivalries in rugby. In an epic battle, Montferrand lost 29–28. After this loss, they went on to win all of their remaining games to win the French championship against Perpignan (19–6) with a notably exceptional display during the semi-final against RC Toulon in Saint-Etienne.
In 2012 they reached the semi-final of theHeineken Cup. They were beaten byLeinster Rugby and were inches from winning the game at the end butWesley Fofana dropped the ball on Leinster's try line.
Clermont reached theHeineken Cup final for the first time in 2013 after they beatMunster Rugby 16–10 in the semi-final in Montpellier. They subsequently lost to Toulon in the HEC final which was held in Lansdowne Road in Dublin on 18 May 2013 by a single point (16–15).
In 2014, Clermont reached theHeineken Cup semi-final of the play-offs for the second consecutive time and lost toSaracens.
2015 saw Clermont make it to the final of the European Cup (nowEuropean Rugby Champions Cup) but lost toRC Toulon 24–18. A few weeks later, they also lost the final of the FrenchTop 14 againstStade Français 12–6.
2016 saw Clermont having their first blow in the European Rugby Champions Cup since 2011 by failing to make the quarter final after a late loss against Bordeaux at home. But they finally reached the French championship semi-final with a highly controversial lose against Racing 92.
However, the team bounced back and produced during the season 2016–2017, reaching again two finals in the French Top 14 and European Champions Cup. They lost the European Cup against reigning champions Saracens.
In January 2020, Clermont acquired a minority stake in the American rugby clubNew Orleans Gold. In addition to player exchanges, the teams will seek to facilitate cultural exchanges between the state ofLouisiana and France.[2]
| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Spectators |
| 18 May 2013 |  RC Toulon | 16–15 | ASM Clermont | Aviva Stadium, Dublin | 51,142 |
| 2 May 2015 | RC Toulon | 24–18 | ASM Clermont | Twickenham, London | 56,662 |
| 13 May 2017 |  Saracens | 28–17 | ASM Clermont | Murrayfield Stadium,Edinburgh | 55,272 |
| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Spectators |
| 27 February 1999 | AS Montferrand | 35–16 | CS Bourgoin-Jallieu | Stade de Gerland,Lyon | 31,986 |
| 22 May 2004 | Harlequin F.C. | 27–26 | AS Montferrand | Madejski Stadium,Reading | 13,123 |
| 19 May 2007 | ASM Clermont | 22–16 | Bath Rugby | Twickenham Stoop, London | 10,134 |
| 10 May 2019 | ASM Clermont | 36–16 | La Rochelle | St James' Park, Newcastle | 28,438 |
| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue | Spectators |
| 10 May 1936 | RC Narbonne | 6–3 | AS Montferrand | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux,Toulouse | 25,000 |
| 2 May 1937 | CS Vienne | 13–7 | AS Montferrand | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux,Toulouse | 17,000 |
| 17 May 1970 | La Voulte Sportif | 3–0 | AS Montferrand | Stadium Municipal,Toulouse | 35,000 |
| 28 May 1978 | AS Béziers | 31–9 | AS Montferrand | Parc des Princes, Paris | 42,004 |
| 28 May 1994 | Stade Toulousain | 22–16 | AS Montferrand | Parc des Princes, Paris | 48,000 |
| 29 May 1999 | Stade Toulousain | 15–11 | AS Montferrand | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 78,000 |
| 9 June 2001 | Stade Toulousain | 34–22 | AS Montferrand | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 78,000 |
| 9 June 2007 | Stade Français | 23–18 | ASM Clermont | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,654 |
| 28 June 2008 | Stade Toulousain | 26–20 | ASM Clermont | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,275 |
| 6 June 2009 | USA Perpignan | 22–13 | ASM Clermont | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,205 |
| 29 May 2010 | ASM Clermont | 19–6 | USA Perpignan | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,262 |
| 13 June 2015 | Stade Français | 12–6 | ASM Clermont | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,000 |
| 4 June 2017 | ASM Clermont | 22–16 | RC Toulon | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,771 |
| 15 June 2019 | Stade Toulousain | 24–18 | ASM Clermont | Stade de France,Saint-Denis | 79,786 |
| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 1935 | USA Perpignan | 3–3, 6–0 | AS Montferrand |
| 1938 | AS Montferrand | 23–10 | USA Perpignan |
| 1957 | US Dax | 6–6* | AS Montferrand |
| 1972 | AS Béziers | 27–6 | AS Montferrand |
| 1976 | AS Montferrand | 40–12 | SC Graulhet |
| 1979 | RC Narbonne | 9–7 | AS Montferrand |
| 1985 | RC Nice | 21–16 | AS Montferrand |
| 1986 | AS Montferrand | 22–15 | FC Grenoble |
| 1994 | USA Perpignan | 18–3 | AS Montferrand |
* Note: by virtue of younger players
| Date | Winners | Score | Runners-up |
| 1945 | SU Agen | 14–13 | AS Montferrand |
| 1947 | Stade Toulousain | 14–11 | AS Montferrand |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toulouse | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 334 | 217 | +117 | 32 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 29 | Qualification forplayoff semi-finals andEuropean Rugby Champions Cup |
| 2 | Toulon | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 280 | 223 | +57 | 37 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 29 | |
| 3 | Pau | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 249 | 211 | +38 | 29 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 28 | Qualification forplayoff semi-final qualifiers andEuropean Rugby Champions Cup |
| 4 | Bordeaux Bègles | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 274 | 240 | +34 | 39 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 27 | |
| 5 | Bayonne | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 273 | 260 | +13 | 31 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 26 | |
| 6 | Stade Français | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 252 | 212 | +40 | 31 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 25 | |
| 7 | La Rochelle | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 257 | 193 | +64 | 31 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 25 | Qualification forEuropean Rugby Champions Cup |
| 8 | Clermont | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 321 | 244 | +77 | 41 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 23 | |
| 9 | Racing 92 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 212 | 243 | −31 | 23 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 21 | Qualification forEuropean Rugby Challenge Cup |
| 10 | Castres | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 208 | 268 | −60 | 24 | 34 | 1 | 3 | 20 | |
| 11 | Montpellier | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 222 | 191 | +31 | 27 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 19 | |
| 12 | Lyon | 9 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 231 | 278 | −47 | 27 | 36 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 13 | Montauban | 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 202 | 406 | −204 | 24 | 56 | 0 | 1 | 7 | Qualification forrelegation play-off |
| 14 | Perpignan | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 142 | 271 | −129 | 15 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Relegation toPro D2 |
The Clermont squad for the2025–26 season is:[3][4]
Note: Flags indicate national union underWorld Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national union underWorld Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
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List of players who represented theFrance national rugby union team while playing for the club.[5]
This list therefore excludes international players who wore the national jersey before or after their career at ASM Clermont Auvergne :Roger Aguerre,David Attoub,Anthony Belleau,Giorgi Beria,Jean Bernon [fr],Franck Comba,Christophe Deslandes,Pierre-Édouard Detrez,François-Xavier Dutour [fr],Lionel Faure,Alexandre Fischer,Loann Goujon,Daniel Héricé [fr],Julien Hériteau,Arnaud Mignardi,Alexandre Péclier,Adrien Pélissié,Adrien Planté,Jules Plisson,Louis Puech [fr],Marc Raynaud,Christophe Samson,Cédric Soulette,Jérôme Thion,Jacobus van Tonder [fr],Sébastien Viars andArmand Vigneau [fr].
 | This list of "famous" or "notable" peoplehas no clearinclusion orexclusion criteria. Please helpimprove this article by defining clear inclusion criteria to contain only subjects that fit those criteria.(December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Alejandro CamposAgustín CreevyMario LedesmaGonzalo LongoMartín ScelzoHernán Senillosa
Peter BethamPat HowardBrock JamesSitaleki TimaniJohn Ulugia
Jamie Cudmore
Jan MacháčekNick AbendanonBrian AshtonRichard CockerillRory JenningsAlex KingDavid Strettle
Seremaia BaiVilimoni DelasauKini MurimurivaluNapolioni NalagaFranck AzémaMichel BoucheronBenoit CabelloCharlie CassangRaphaël Chanal [fr]Camille GerondeauThierry LacrampeGeoffroy MessinaBastien PouraillyLudovic RadosavljevicClément RicEnzo SangaAtila SeptarPierre VigourouxTani Vili
Otar GiorgadzeBeka KakabadzeViktor KolelishviliGoderdzi ShvelidzeDavit Zirakashvili
Gonzalo CanaleAlessandro Troncon
Kotaro Matsushima
Sam BroomhallMike DelanyZac GuildfordJoe KaramRegan KingSione LauakiKevin SenioSitiveni SivivatuBenson StanleyIsaia Toeava
Julien Bardy
Tasesa LaveaTim Nanai-WilliamsTi'i PauloGeorge PisiJohn SenioGavin Williams
Paul BurnellGreig LaidlawJason WhiteNathan Hines
Selborne BoomeMarius JoubertBreyton PaulseBrent RussellJohn SmitGerhard Vosloo
Samuel EzealaPierre-Emmanuel Garcia
Seti KioleJohnny Ngauamo
Kevin Dalzell
Jonathan DaviesStephen JonesLee Byrne| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
