RUGBY : ADVANTAGE BRIVE

Brive-la-Gaillarde is a town that lives and breathes rugby. In many parts of Southern France, rugby is more popular than football, and despite the clubs modest size, its fans are intensely loyal and passionate. It’s a game that is always at the heart and soul of the festive and sporting city that is Brive La Gaillarde.

Brive La Moustache!

The very name “Gaillard”, which forms part of the city’s name, originates from the French word that describes a person characterized by being full of vigor, in prime physical health and full of life. This is why you’ll notice the moustached motif featured on clothing and accessories that proudly promote the town with the slogan “100% Gaillard.” In part a nod to its sporting history and rugby origins, the Gaillard mentality has been associated with the World Rugby Union Federation’s other core values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect. The result is the historic C.A. Brive (Club Athletic Brive), otherwise commonly known as the CAB rugby union club with a rich and proud tradition spanning from its inception in the early 20th century to the modern day.

The Brive Barmy Army

With the (little known backstory of) help from a bunch of Toulouse soldiers and keen rugby players from the 126 th Infantry Regiment stationed in Brive in 1910, the CAB club was born at the stadium Gaillard.

With a heyday of success for the men’s team that began in the 1950s, winning the second division championship in 1957 they have gone on to be a regular participant in France’s premier rugby league competition known as the “Top 14”. This small club has delivered impressive results, with three appearances as runners up in the finals of the Rugby Championship in 1965, 1972, 1975 and eventual champions of France in 1996. In 1997 they reached glory in the European Rugby Champions Cup winning against England’s Leicester Tigers.

Lately the team’s drop in form has seen them relegated from the top-tier to the second division but all Brive CAB supporters are hoping that by the time you finish reading this sentence they will have been rightly restored to their place in the premier Top 14 competition- their natural home.

More Barmy Armies

In the last decade, significant investment has been made into the development of women’s rugby too. In 2023 this paid off when they became champions of France in the French Federal 1 Champions league. Such is the success of women’s rugby at the club that they can now field two separate XV teams playing in two different French leagues.

GAME DAY

Interwined with the vibrant spiritand identity of the city rugby breathes its life into the local population. For a town crazy about rugby its on game day that Brive comes alive with fans donning the CAB black and white team strip and heading to the many excellent bars, cafés and eateries in the central city. With the team’s jersey donned, aperitifs are consumed, sausages eaten and the occasional beer savoured in the autumnal or winter light. Starting off early from the weekly market at Halle Georges Brassens to other spots around town you will see supporters gathering and preparing for game day.

At the Amédée-Domenech stadium, the gates normally open 1 h 30 before kick-off. Scattered around the outside of the stands you will find food trucks and bars offering refreshments and something to settle the nerves. Inside, this intimate 14 000 seat stadium, you get close up to the action pitch side. The fans will lure you into this vibrant atmosphere with one-eyed support and the sounds of trumpet and drums banging out the ‘ferias’ signature rallying cry which is a staple of true French rugby atmosphere.

Tickets can be purchased on-line at the club’s official website or at the ticket gates on match day. If the experience lives in the memory, team merchandise can be bought at the grounds or online making sure you continue to be connected to this historic French club imbued with the Gaillard spirit.