Stade Rochelais Basket
French basketball club that debuted in LNB Élite in 2024–25.
Stade Rochelais basket is a professional basketball club from La Rochelle, France. It began in 1932 under the name Rupella. The team first reached the second-tier LNB Pro B in 1988, spending eight seasons there and featuring former top-flight players such as Don Collins and Freddy Hufnagel. Following relegation in 1996, the club dropped to the sixth-level Nationale Masculine 4 (NM4). It climbed back to the third-tier Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1) in 2012 under coach Gregory Thiélin. In 2017, the basketball side merged with the rugby union club Stade Rochelais, taking on its yellow-and-black colours and becoming part of the multi-sport Stade Rochelais Omnisports. Former French national team player Aymeric Jeanneau became the club’s director in April 2020, aiming to reach the top division. After promotion to Pro B in 2021 and winning the league title in 2023–24, the team debuted in the LNB Élite during the 2024–25 season but was relegated to Élite 2 at the end of that campaign.
Quick Facts
- Nickname
- Les Maritimes (The Maritimes)
- Leagues
- Élite 2
- Founded
- 1932
- Arena
- Salle Gaston-Neveur
- Capacity
- 1,994
- Location
- La Rochelle, France
- Coach
- Julien Cortey
- Championships
- 1 French Second League
- H Body
- ff0
- H Pattern B
- _blacksides
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Stade Rochelais basket began in 1932 as Rupella. The team first reached the second division LNB Pro B in 1988, where it remained for eight years, featuring former LNB Pro A players such as Don Collins and Freddy Hufnagel. In 1996, the club was relegated to the sixth level Nationale Masculine 4 (NM4). Under coach Gregory Thiélin, the team returned to the third level Nationale Masculine 1 (NM1) in 2012.
Reader's Guide
The club merged with the rugby union club Stade Rochelais in 2017, adopting the rugby club's traditional yellow and black colors, and the basketball section became part of the omnisport club Stade Rochelais Omnisports. In April 2020, former France national team player Aymeric Jeanneau became the director of the club and expressed the goal of bringing the team to the highest level Pro A. After a promotion to the Pro B in 2021 and a championship in 2024, they made their debut in the LNB Élite (formerly the Pro A) in the 2024–25 season. The team currently plays in the Élite 2, having been relegated from the LNB Élite in the 2024–25 season. Notable players include Henry Pwono and Kiady Razanamahenina.
Did You Know?
- The club was founded in 1932 as Rupella.
- The team was promoted to the LNB Pro B for the first time in 1988.
- Aymeric Jeanneau became director of the club in April 2020.
More in Basketball teams in France 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced