![[Flag of Rabastens]](../images/f/fr-65@rb.gif)
Last modified: 2009-12-12 by ivan sache
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Flag of Rabastens XV - Image by Ivan Sache, 2 October 2009
The municipality of Rabastens-de-Bigorre (1,419 inhabitants in 2006;
893 ha) is located 20 km north of Tarbes.
The rugby club Rabastens XV plays in the top league (Honneur) of
the Armagnac-Bigorre Federation, a territorial federation that groups
58 clubs located in the departments of Hautes-Pyrénées and Gers, the most famous of them being Tarbes (national champion in 1919, 1920 and 1973) and Lourdes (national champion in 1948, 1952, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1968). Several famous players of the French national team come from Armagnac-Bigorre, for instance Jean-Michel Aguirre,
Pierre Berbizier, Roland Bertranne, Philippe Dintrans, Jean Gachassin,
Jean-Pierre Garuet and Jean Prat.
In spite of the recent
merchandization of French rugby and the decline of the rugby des
villes et des villages (towns and villages' rugby) system, several
villages, such as Rabastens, still proudly maintain an amateur
rugby club. In the south-west of France, rugby has a strong
educational and social value.
The main victories of Rabastens XV are the territorial 4e Série (2006), Réserves B (2008) and Promotion d'Honneur (2009) leagues. In 2009, the club was defeated in the national final of the Promotion d'Honneur league by Cessenon/Saint-Chinian, 19-21 during the extra-time.
The flag of the club, as seen on photos available on the club blog, is vertically divided black-red, the colours of the club.
Ivan Sache, 2 October 2009
