Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole Women are a French rugby union club based in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. They compete in the Élite 1 competition, which is the top division of women's rugby in France.
History Founded in 1972, the Villeneuve-d'Ascq Rugby Club was established from its inception, reflecting the development of the new town of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, and very quickly settled on a traditional pitch located next to the Lille-I University. Initially bringing together young players who had come to the North for work or studies, it soon recruited local players and competed in the local and regional championships. After a few years away from the league and somewhat inactive, it began to flourish again from 1985 onwards with the arrival of some very talented former players from Arras.
Recruiting from the sporting and academic world, accompanied by a dynamic rugby school, they steadily climbed up to the third federale division in 1998.
They have faced Montpellier four times in the championship final from 2013 to 2017, eventually winning their only title in 2016.
In 2018, a web documentary by Benjamin Montel and Antonin Boutinard Rouelle called Putain de nanas, features the players and highlights various issues of women's rugby, such as femininity in rugby or the lack of professionalization of the players.
In 2022, for its 50th anniversary, the club changed its name and became Stade Villeneuvois Lille Métropole.
They avoided relegation to Elite 2 in the 2024–2025 season against Rennes who were relegated on the final day of the season.
Honours
Élite 1: Winner (1): 2016 Finalist (3): 2013, 2015, 2017 Élite 2: Winner (3): 1999, 2006, 2011 French Elite Rugby Sevens Championship: Winner (3): 2014, 2016, 2017 Finalist (1): 2015
Finals CompetitionDateChampionScoreRunner-upVenueÉlite 22006Lille MRCV14–9Entente Sportive NanterreÉlite 22011Lille MRCV31–15Stade Bordelais1st Division1 June 2013Montpellier HR15–12Lille MRCVStade Robert-Barran, VierzonTop 82 May 2015Montpellier HR17–3Lille MRCVStade Marcel-Verchère, Bourg-en-BresseTop 821 May 2016Lille MRCV18–7Montpellier HRStade Jules-Ladoumègue, MassyTop 829 April 2017Montpellier HR17–11Lille MRCVStade André Moga, Bègles
References