Top 14 preview - Stade Français

Welcome to Stade Jean-Bouin

We take an in-depth look at the runners and the riders of the 2005/06 Top 14 ahead of the new season. Today we tackle Stade Français.

Last time around:

A double heartbreak for Fabuen Galthié's team that had won back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004 under Nick Mallett, and looked to be on the cards for a Top 16 and Heineken Cup double for much of last season, despite a plethora of injuries early on in the season. The run-in saw them at near full-strength though, and they made both finals, only to have their hopes dashed in both during extra-time - firstly by Toulouse in the Heineken Cup, a defeat they avenged in the semi-finals of the national championship, and then by Biarritz in the Top 16 final, who were themselves avenging a last-minute defeat in the Heineken Cup semi-final.

This time?

The squad gets ever-stronger, and motivation will be at an all-time high for this season, as Max Guazzini's rugby version of Chelsea seeks to quench its thirst for the missing silverware. There is a handy vein of youth in the new signings, with Thibault Lacroix a particularly useful capture from rivals Biarritz, and the added energy and depth will keep Stade right in amongst the leaders in France. In the Heineken Cup, Stade have been drawn in the pool of death with Leicester, the Ospreys and newly-reinforced Clermont. Anyone could qualify from that one, but anyone who does is a serious title contender.

Captain: David Auradou is one of five enormous second rows in Stade's squad, none of whom are under 1.98m tall. Auradou has been at the club since 1997, and has won 40 international caps. He leads very much in the style of Martin Johnson - as his 5 yellow cards in 23 matches last season bears testament to!

One to watch: Thibault Lacroix made a name for himself last season in France's U21 side, but Sergio Parisse is the pick of the arrivals. Parisse is becoiming a fixture in Italy's national team, and offers unlimited energy and slick hands from number eight. Watch for young front-rowers Yohann Montes and Benjamin Kayser entering the fray as well.

In: Sergio Parisse (Treviso, Italian), Pablo Henn (Hindú Club, Argentinian), Geoffroy Messina (Clermont Auvergne), Julien Saubade (Dax), Thibault Lacroix (Biarritz), Morgan Williams (Saracens, Canadian), Boela du Plooy (Cats, South African).

Out: Olivier Brouzet (retired), Juan Carlos Bado (Montauban, Uruguayan), Regan King (, New Zealander), Raphaël Poulain (retired), Grégory Mahé (Narbonne), Sacha Marot (Grenoble, South African), Bastien Sipielski (Stade Bordelais), Gonzalo Quesada (Argentinian) and Charton-Collier (Pau), Sydney Galopin (Métro Racing 92)

Colours: Blue and red

Club info:

Stade Jean-Bouin (12,000 seats)
26, avenue du général Sarrail
75016 Paris

Tickets: prices not available

Travel connections: Paris has everything! the nearest Métro stations are Metro Porte d'Auteuil on line 10, and Metro Porte de Saint-Cloud on line 9.