TotalEnergies: A New Season Alongside Section Paloise Pau Béarn Pyrénées

In Pau, Section Paloise holds a special place. As an iconic rugby club in Béarn, it brings together supporters, families, businesses and many other local stakeholders at Stade du Hameau. Each new season is therefore a major sporting milestone, but also a moment that brings the entire region together.

As a Major Partner, TotalEnergies shares Section Paloise’s strong attachment to the region. Its partnership with the club is built on a long-standing relationship based on loyalty, proximity and team spirit, supporting both the men’s and women’s rugby teams (Les Lonsoises). Following a historic season for the men’s team, and with the new season getting off to a flying start for the Top 14 side, Bastien Azabant, Sponsorship Governance Manager, looks back at the meaning behind this commitment and how it helps strengthen the ties between TotalEnergies and Béarn.
 

What does the start of a new season mean for TotalEnergies and its rugby partnership with Section Paloise?

A new season is always a special moment. It opens a new chapter, with new ambitions, while also highlighting the loyalty of everyone who supports Section Paloise. For TotalEnergies, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our support for a club that brings people together far beyond the rugby pitch. In terms of both emotion and performance, last season marked a turning point, with a historic qualification for the Top 14 final stages, a first in 26 years! Although the journey ended in the play-off match at Stade du Hameau, the season created many lasting memories and strengthened the club’s ambitions for the years ahead.

Today, expectations surrounding the team are high. Supporters have grown accustomed to seeing Section Paloise compete with the best teams in the championship, and the club has made its ambition clear: to establish itself permanently in the Top 6. As a Major Partner, it is exciting to see this momentum building before our eyes.

This season will also see the opening of the HonhaCamp-TotalEnergies training centre, a key facility for the club’s future that will be home to the professional team, the academy and the development team.
 

Why is loyalty such an important part of this partnership?

Being a partner of an institution such as Section Paloise for nearly 40 years is something quite unique in French sport. For us, longevity is precisely what gives a partnership its depth. It enables us to go beyond a traditional sponsorship relationship: we get to know each other, build trust and support the club through the different chapters of its history.

This relationship has also become deeply rooted among our employees. Over the seasons, generations of TotalEnergies employees have followed Section Paloise’s performances. Many live or have lived in Béarn, know Stade du Hameau, have watched the club grow and remain attached to this symbol of Béarn’s identity. Some still follow the matches while on assignments several thousand kilometres away from Pau, sharing great moments together. It shows just how much Section Paloise goes beyond sport alone.

This long-standing relationship also reflects our own history in Béarn. Established in the region since the 1950s, TotalEnergies has long contributed to its development.
 

What values do TotalEnergies and Section Paloise share?

Rugby is, above all, about the strength of the team. On the pitch, everyone has a specific role to play, but no performance is possible without trust, solidarity and shared commitment. This team culture strongly reflects the way we work, with people from very different areas of expertise collaborating every day to move complex projects forward.

We also share a strong belief with Section Paloise: preparing for the future means investing in talent. The squad was strengthened during the off-season with the arrival of several international players and promising young talents, while retaining the core group that carried Section Paloise through last season.We fully support the club’s model, which is based on helping young players develop and progress all the way to the highest level. Seeing these young players grow in Section Paloise colours, join the professional team and sometimes reach the very highest level is a great illustration of what support, trust and long-term commitment can achieve.

This vision is very close to that of TotalEnergies. We place great importance on sharing knowledge, training and developing skills. In rugby, as in business, the most lasting successes are above all human adventures built collectively.
 

How does this partnership come to life for local stakeholders and TotalEnergies employees?

Our aim is not simply to gain visibility as a Major Partner. Above all, we want to tell stories and shine a spotlight on the women and men who bring rugby to life locally.

This is at the heart of the content we develop with Section Paloise and Collectif Rugby. For example, through our "Terres d’Énergies" mini-series (example in video below), we met female and male players, coaches and volunteers from local amateur clubs. These videos show that behind top-level performances there are often years of passion, learning and commitment within local clubs.

Our commitment to showcasing amateur rugby can also be seen on match days. At every game at Stade du Hameau, we invite rugby schools, volunteers, club managers and coaches from amateur clubs across the region. It is our way of thanking those who contribute every day to keeping the sport alive.

Matches at Stade du Hameau also give us an opportunity to develop our public relations activities. Employees from our Pau sites are fully involved in this adventure too. Through the partnership, they have access to dedicated ticketing, with nearly 300 employees attending each home match on average. Non-profit organisations working in the public interest also regularly receive invitations. For many, it is an opportunity to share a memorable experience around a common passion or simply enjoy a great event while discovering our local culture.
 

Discover Clément Laporte and Lisa Cazaux's journeys

What message would you like to share with Section Paloise and its supporters for this new season?

Above all, we hope that this new season will continue to thrill the entire region. When Stade du Hameau is full and the supporters are firmly behind their team, something special happens. That passion played a major role in turning the Hameau into a fortress last season.

Of course, we hope to see Section Paloise confirm its progress and continue its rise among the best clubs in the Top 14.

But beyond the results, above all we want this team to continue embodying the values that make it strong: commitment, boldness and that deep attachment to its region. That is also what gives real meaning to our commitment alongside the club for nearly 40 years.

So, to the entire team, the staff and all the supporters: make the most of this new season, keep thrilling us, inspiring us and giving us more unforgettable moments to share together. Once again this year, we will be proudly by your side. Allez la Section! And I have not forgotten the women’s team, but that will be the subject of another article...