Stade Rochelais is not just rugby. The basketball section of the Caravelle club obtained its very first promotion to Betclic Elite, the highest French level, on Thursday evening by winning on the Boulazac floor after overtime (72-67). La Rochelle had already won the first round two days earlier at home (67-49).
The Maritimes finished first at the end of the regular season, with 27 victories for 7 defeats, but had to wait for the play-offs to validate their rise. Due to the transition from 18 to 16 teams in the first division, only one team is in fact promoted this season (for three relegated to Pro B, the Mets, Blois and Roanne while waiting to know the fate of Limoges).
The club, formerly called “Rupella”, came under the ownership of Stade Rochelais in 2017, finalist of the last Top 14 and double winner of the Champions Cup in 2022 and 2023. Basketball players and rugby players notably share training infrastructure and staff common administrative services. Both also rely on strong local support: like the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, the Gaston-Neveur room (1,650 seats) was sold out all season.
THIS IS COMPLETELY DINNNNNG!!! 🤯🤯
At the end of the suspense, the Rochelais win and are PRO B CHAMPIONS!!!! It’s incredible, THANK YOU GENTLEMEN! WE’RE THE BETCLIC ELITE! 👊💥
⚫️🟣 67 – 72 🟡⚫#FinalesProB | #FievreSR
— Stade Rochelais Basket (@SR_Rupella) June 6, 2024
The basketball section is experiencing dazzling success: in National 1 until 2022, it has experienced two rises over the last three years. This success is reminiscent of rugby, as Stade Rochelais established itself as one of the best teams in France just a few years after its promotion to the Top 14, becoming a double European champion.
