to Stade Toulousain. It was their fourth losing final. Only one club have lost more finals without winning one than them (US Dax, on five). That year however, they won the Challenge Yves du Manoir, defeating Pau 12–6. The following season, they made it to the final of the Heineken Cup where they faced the Leicester Tigers from England at Cardiff Arms Park. Brive finally won a final, defeating the Tigers 28–9. They are the only club to win the European Cup without ever winning their domestic championship. On 22 February 1997, Brive, as European champions, were pitted against Auckland Blues who had recently won the Super 12. The French team were no competition to an extra powerful Kiwi side which won easily 47–11. In 1998 Brive again reached the final of the Heineken Cup, this time against Bath. They came close to capturing back-to-back titles, losing by just one point, 19–18 at Parc Lescure in Bordeaux. Since then, however, the club has been in dire straits, as it was subjected to a punitive relegation to the second division in 2000 due to bad financial management. They bounced back two years later but have struggled ever since in the lower echelons of the league table, except in 2004 when they managed to qualify for the playoffs. In 2005, Brive went to the semi-finals of European Challenge Cup, but they lost to Pau. In 2009, after taking the sixth place of the Championship, the Black and White could participate in the Heineken Cup, but the competition was difficult for them, against the Europeans champions Leinster, Llanelli Scarlets and London Irish. After difficulties and a relegation to the second division in 2012, Brive returned to the Top 14 the following year, after defeating Pau. Honours Heineken Cup Champions (1): 1996–97 Runners-up (1): 1997–98 French Rugby Union Championship Runners-up (4): 1964–65, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1995–96 French Second Division Champions (1): 1956–57 Runners-up (2): 2012–13, 2018–19 Promotion play-offs Final/Top 14 Access Match Champions (2): 2012–13, 2018–19 Challenge Yves du Manoir: Champions (1): 1996 Runners-up (2): 1963, 1974 Coupe de France: Runners-up (1): 2000 Finals results Heineken Cup French Rugby Union Championship Challenge Yves du Manoir Coupe de France Current standings Current squad The Brive squad for the 2022–23 season: Espoirs squad Notable former players The following are players who have represented their country, players who have won a title with the club, players who have