The club did win silverware in that debut season when they won the Lord Derby Cup beating XIII Catalan 22–7 in the final, scoring 15 unanswered points in the second half.

In December 1935 a dispute between player-coach 'Mathon' and chairman 'Pansera' led to Pansera leaving the club, meaning the French rugby league authorities got involved.

The outcome was that Mathon was banned from the sport for allegedly leading a player revolt, after which Pansera returned to the club as chairman.

It later turned out that Pansera owed money to some people from Marseilles, he was smuggling arms and using the rugby club to cover up his dealings.

Back on the field and by the end of that season the club finished top of the table but failed to reach final.

Relegation followed in 1957 but after winning the National League 1 title, now called Elite Two in 1958 they made an immediate return to the top flight.

Named after a local resistance leader who was killed in 1944 the ground plays host to both league and union nowadays, with Lyon Villeurbanne and ASVEL Rugby both tenants.