News
ETABLISSEMENT PAU LACQ
Together with its partners, spearheaded by TotalEnergies, the Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées is beginning a new chapter in its the 2024-2025 season story.
Everyone - the team, the staff, volunteers, supporters and partners, everyone is ready to support their favorite rugby team for a new season of the TOP 14 rugby league, full of promise and challenges. "As major partner and stakeholder firmly rooted in our area, with over 2,500 employees in the Béarn region and 5,000 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, we’re delighted to start this new chapter," explains Jérôme Poncet, Head of the TotalEnergies site in Pau. "As Patrick Pouyanné, our Chairman and CEO said, rugby is a crucial part of our regional identity. Supporting both the mens’ and the womens’ team of the Section Paloise, is supporting our local community and our shared values," he adds.
A new season full of ambitions
This year, the team is aiming to reach the top of the leaderboard and stay there among the best in the championship. With a mixture of rising young stars and experienced players, the Section is determined to produce outstanding performances on the field. It draws on a strategic and ambitious recruitment campaign. The club formalized the arrival in the squad of 11 new members who illustrate the philosophy behind the game tactics adopted by the Section for more than three years now - a strategy combining strength and dynamism. Among the new members are front row players and experienced "backs", as well as young rising stars like our new Olympic gold medalist in the recent Rugby Sevens competition in Paris, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang.
The main aim of the Section Paloise Béarn Pyrénées rugby pro is to qualify in the top 6 of the TOP 14 championship. To achieve this objective, in addition to expanding the squad, in particular the forwards, the club is banking on a "must-win mentality". Sébastien Piqueronies, Manager since 2021, highlighted the importance of keeping a certain alchemy within the team and giving young players opportunities. He emphasizes that to succeed it is really important to have an inbuilt winning mindset. In his opinion, each individual in the team needs to achieve their own personal fulfilment and also share a common goal with the others. The manager must help strike a balance, such that the player’s self-fulfillment benefits the achievement of a collective endeavor.
With the new members of the team and a clear strategy, the Section hopes to both improve its performance and make the season a memorable one for its fans and partners. As major partner, TotalEnergies is entitled to several tickets for every match played at the Stade du Hameau. They are given to employees and to a series of associations that work to support the most vulnerable people in society. "We’re excited to find out what the new season holds for us, and we’re encouraging all our colleagues and supporters to follow each match with energy and enthusiasm. Go, Section!" concludes the Site Manager.
TotalEnergies has a close, long-standing relationship with rugby, underpinned by shared values and deep commitment to the sport. Since 1988, TotalEnergies is major partner of the Section Paloise, supporting the club through thick and thin. This long-standing partnership shows the Company’s attachment to the region and its rugby-related traditions. As well as supporting the Pau-based club, TotalEnergies is also a key player in national French rugby. The Company became an official sponsor of the 2023 French Rugby World Cup, and has recently signed a partnership with the French Rugby Federation until 2028. This partnership includes support to all the women’s and men’s French Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens teams. The values of rugby, such as solidarity, audacity and respect, resonate deeply with those of TotalEnergies. The multi-energies Company is also actively involved in local initiatives, such as the Tournoi National des Quartiers et des Campagnes, which aims to promote rugby among young people and encourage social inclusion.
- Find out more: Sponsoring and Territory