It would take until 1962 for the club to be crowned 2nd Division champions, defeating La Reole XIII 21-3 to gain promotion to the National League 1 now the 2nd tier Elite Two.

In 1982 the club signed their first overseas players when they brought over three Australians from North Sydney Bears, Michael Glascock, Richard Lewis and Craig Ebert.

In 1990 Le Barcares XIII defeated Villefranche 12-6 in the Elite Two Championship final to deny the club promotion.

They were relegated after only twelve months and had to wait six years to return, courtesy of a 38-18 win over Saint-Cyprien in 1999.

The Stade Henri Lagarde is a rugby stadium in Villefranche with one main stand with a cinder track and perimeter fence around the pitch.