ASM Clermont Auvergne

Full name

Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne

Nickname(s)

Les Jaunards, The Vulcans, Montferrand, Yellow Army

Founded

1911

Location

Clermont-Ferrand, France

Ground(s)

Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin (Capacity: 18,030)

President

Eric De Cromieres

Coach(es)

Franck Azéma

Captain(s)

Damien Chouly

League(s)

Top 14

2014–15

2nd (top 14 finalists)

1st kit

2nd kit

3rd kit

Official website

www.asm-rugby.com

Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne (pronounced: [klɛʀmɔ̃ ovɛʁnj]) is a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA is the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club AS Montferrandaise, which was founded in 1911 and adopted that name in 1922. Although the rugby section changed its name to the current ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2004, it is still frequently referred to as Montferrand both within and outside France.

The team plays at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin (capacity 18,030) and wears yellow and blue, which are the colours of the city of Montferrand, where Marcel Michelin, the founder's son of the famous 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, are the traditional underdog, always cited among early favourites and praised for their style of play, but never winning when come spring. They have reached the French Championship final twelve times, losing on each occasion until their eleventh trip in 2010, when they finally won the championship. The perennial bridesmaids in their 100th year as a club broke through and conquered France, beating Perpignan in a rematch of the 2009 final.^[1]

History

The club was established in 1911 as AS Michelin, though they changed their name to AS Montferrandaise in 1922 due to legal obligation. The club was started by Marcel Michelin, the son of André Michelin, founder of the Michelin tyre manufacturer. The club made its first final of any competition in 1935, where they played Perpignan for the Challenge 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 to RC Narbonne 6 points to 3. They made the final again in 1937, though that match was also lost, 13 points to 7 to CS Vienne. However 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 the Coupe de France on two occasions, in 1945 and 1947. The club lost on both occasions, by one point, 14 to 13 to SU Agen in 1945, and then 14 to 11 against Toulouse in 1947. It would be another 10 years until the club featured in another competition final; losing to US 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 to La Voulte Sportif. The club then contested the Challenge Yves du Manoir twice in a row over the 1972–73 seasons; losing both finals, against AS Béziers and Narbonne respectively. Then they won the competition in 1976, defeating SC 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 the European Challenge Cup. They won the European Challenge Cup, defeating fellow French club CS Bourgoin-Jallieu 35 points to 16. 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 club Harlequins, by one point, 27 to 26.

But the team has known a hard period between 2002 and 2006 and only the arrival of Vern Cotter, at the middle of the year 2006, has boosted the team to his top form. For his first year, Vern Cotter has succeed in change the teamspirit. ASM reached his first final since 2001 (lost in the last minute against Stade Français) and won the European Challenge Cup against Bath during an epic game at the Stoop of Twickenham. For the second and third year with Vern Cotter, Montferrand developed again one of the prettiest games of the championship but lost again the two finals against Toulouse in 2008 and Perpignan in 2009.

In 2010, the team started to think about the Heineken Cup but was drawn against Leicester Tigers and Ospreys in a tough pool. But Montferrand succeeded in reaching first place of the pool and was drawn against the holders of the cup, Leinster Rugby. That was the beginning of one of the best rivalries in rugby. In an epic battle, Montferrand lost 29–28 (with an awful day for their fly-half Brock James).After this loss, they went on to win all of their remaining games to win the French championship against Perpignan (19–6).

In 2012 they reached the semi-final of the Heineken Cup. They were beaten by Leinster Rugby and were inches from winning the game at the end but Wesley Fofana dropped the ball on Leinster's try line.

Clermont reached the Heineken Cup final for the first time in 2013 after they beat Munster Rugby 16–10 in the semi-final. 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 all ors history, ASM Clermont Auvergne has lost 21 finals.

In 2014, Clermont reached the Heineken Cup semi-final of the play-offs for the second consecutive time and lost to Saracens 46 – 6.

2015 saw Clermont make it to the final of the European Cup (now European Rugby Champions Cup) just to lose to RC Toulon 24–18. A few weeks later, they also lost the final of the French Top 14 against capital's club Stade Français 9–6.

Current standings

2015–16 Top 14 Table

Club

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points For

Points Against

Points Diff.

Tries For

Tries Against

Try Bonus

Losing Bonus

Points

Racing

390

302

+88

Clermont

482

285

+197

Toulon

557

327

+230

Bordeaux

390

320

+70

Montpellier

432

395

+37

Toulouse

434

269

+165

Castres

393

338

+55

La Rochelle

373

370

Brive

311

333

−22

Grenoble

411

483

−72

Pau

264

448

−184

Stade Français

323

388

−65

Agen

328

530

−202

Oyonnax

279

578

−299

If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

Competition points earned in head-to-head matches

Points difference in head-to-head matches

Try differential in head-to-head matches

Points difference in all matches

Try differential in all matches

Points scored in all matches

Tries scored in all matches

Fewer matches forfeited

Classification in the previous Top 14 season

Green background (rows 1 and 2) receive semi-final play-off places and receive berths in the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup.
Blue background (rows 3 to 6) receive quarter-final play-off places, and receive berths in the Champions Cup.
Yellow background (row 7) indicates the team that may qualify for the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. To facilitate the 2015 Rugby World Cup, there will be no play-offs for the Champions Cup with the 20th place going to the winner of the 2015–16 European Rugby Challenge Cup if not already qualified.
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Red background (row 13 and 14) will be relegated to Rugby Pro D2. Updated 13 March 2016

Honours

Statue of Vercingetorix decorated with the flag of ASM Clermont Auvergne after the Top 14 championship of 2010.

Heineken Cup and European Rugby Champions Cup:
- Runners-up (2): 2013, 2015
Top 14:
- Winners (1): 2010
- Runners-up (11): 1936, 1937, 1970, 1978, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015
Challenge Yves du Manoir:
- Winners (3): 1938, 1976, 1986
- Runners-up (6): 1935, 1957, 1972, 1979, 1985, 1994
Coupe de France:
- Winners (1): 2001
- Runners-up (2): 1945, 1947
European Challenge Cup:
- Winners (2): 1999, 2007
- Runners-up (1): 2004

European results

Heineken Cup and European Rugby Champions Cup

Date	Winners	Score	Runners-up	Venue	Spectators
18 May 2013	RC Toulon	16–15	Clermont Auvergne	Aviva Stadium, Dublin	51,142
2 May 2015	RC Toulon	24–18	Clermont Auvergne	Twickenham, London	56,662

European Challenge Cup

Date	Winner	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	Clermont Auvergne	22–16	Bath Rugby	Twickenham Stoop, London	10,134

France results

French championship

Date	Winner	Runners-up	Score	Venue	Spectators
10 May 1936	RC Narbonne	AS Montferrand	6–3	Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse	25,000
2 May 1937	CS Vienne	AS Montferrand	13–7	Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse	17,000
17 May 1970	La Voulte Sportif	AS Montferrand	3–0	Stadium Municipal, Toulouse	35,000
28 May 1978	AS Béziers	AS Montferrand	31–9	Parc des Princes, Paris	42,004
28 May 1994	Stade Toulousain	AS Montferrand	22–16	Parc des Princes, Paris	48,000
29 May 1999	Stade Toulousain	AS Montferrand	15–11	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	78,000
9 June 2001	Stade Toulousain	AS Montferrand	34–22	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	78,000
9 June 2007	Stade Français	ASM Clermont Auvergne	23–18	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	79,654
28 June 2008	Stade Toulousain	ASM Clermont Auvergne	26–20	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	79,275
6 June 2009	USA Perpignan	ASM Clermont Auvergne	22–13	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	79,205
29 May 2010	ASM Clermont Auvergne	USA Perpignan	19–6	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	79,262
13 June 2015	Stade Français	ASM Clermont Auvergne	12–6	Stade de France, Saint-Denis	?

Challenge Yves du Manoir

Year	Winner	Score	Runner-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

Coupe de France

Year	Winner	Score	Runner-up
1945	SU Agen	14–13	AS Montferrand
1947	Stade Toulousain	14–11	AS Montferrand

Current squad

For player movements leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Top 14 transfers#Clermont.

2015–16 Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player	Position	Union
Benjamin Kayser	Hooker	France
John Ulugia	Hooker	Australia
Marthinus Van Der Westhuizen	Hooker	South Africa
Pierre Rude	Hooker	France
Raphaël Chaume	Prop	France
Vincent Debaty	Prop	France
Thomas Domingo	Prop	France
Daniel Kotze	Prop	France
Clément Ric	Prop	France
Mickael Simutoga	Prop	France
Davit Zirakashvili	Prop	Georgia
Jamie Cudmore	Lock	Canada
Loïc Jacquet	Lock	France
Paul Jedrasiak	Lock	France
Arthur Iturria	Lock	France
Sébastien Vahaamahina	Lock	France
Flip van der Merwe	Lock	South Africa
Julien Bardy	Flanker	Portugal
Viktor Kolelishvili	Flanker	Georgia
Camille Gérondeau	Flanker	France
Judicael Cancoriet	Flanker	France
Alexandre Lapandry	Flanker	France
Damien Chouly	Number 8	France
Fritz Lee	Number 8	Samoa

Player	Position	Union
Morgan Parra	Scrum-half	France
Ludovic Radosavljevic	Scrum-half	France
Enzo Sanga	Scrum-half	France
Brock James	Fly-half	Australia
Camille Lopez	Fly-half	France
Patricio Fernandez	Fly-half	Argentina
Jonathan Davies	Centre	Wales
Wesley Fofana	Centre	France
Aurélien Rougerie	Centre	France
Benson Stanley	Centre	New Zealand
Albert Vulivuli	Centre	Fiji
Pedro Bettencourt Ávila	Centre	Portugal
Hosea Gear	Wing	New Zealand
Noa Nakaitaci	Wing	France
Alivereti Raka	Wing	Fiji
Adrien Planté	Wing	France
David Strettle	Wing	England
Nick Abendanon	Fullback	England
Scott Spedding	Fullback	France
Isaia Toeava	Fullback	New Zealand

Notable former players

References

↑ Couret, Jean-Paul (30 May 2010). "Clermont beat Perpignan to end 10-final jinx in Top 14". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). Retrieved 31 May 2010.

External links

(French) ASM Clermont Auvergne Official website
(French) ASM Rugby supporters club web site

Top 14

2015–16 Teams	Agen Bordeaux Brive Castres Clermont Grenoble La Rochelle Montpellier Oyonnax Pau Racing Stade Français Toulon Toulouse

The origins	1892 1892–93 1893–94 1894–95 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–00 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19

Between the wars	1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39

During the second world war	1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45

After the second world war	1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60

1960–80	1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80

1980–95	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95

Professional era and Top 16	1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05

Top 14	2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16

Trophy	Bouclier de Brennus

European Rugby Champions Cup

Organised by European Professional Club Rugby
Formerly the Heineken Cup, organised by European Rugby Cup

2015–16 teams

Heineken Cup
(1995-2014)

Seasons	1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Pool Stages	1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14

Finals	1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Champions Cup
(2014-present)

Seasons	2014–15 2015–16

Pool stages	2014–15 2015–16

Finals	2015 2016

Qualification play-off

Rugby union in France

Governing body

Fédération Française de Rugby

National teams

Men's	France A 7s France amateur U-20 U-18

Women's	Women's 7's

Competitions

International	World Cup Six Nations Rugby World Cup Sevens World Rugby Sevens Series Sevens Grand Prix Series

Professional clubs	European Rugby Champions Cup European Rugby Challenge Cup National Rugby League (France) Top 14 Pro D2 Fédérale 1 Fédérale 2 Fédérale 3 Challenge Yves du Manoir

ASM Clermont Auvergne squad

Coach Franck Azéma

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