Stade Français: Carbonel Eyes Forecast-Defying Start

The Parisians, who come out of a failed exercise, launch their new season on Saturday by the reception of the Montalbanian promoted.

Twelfth of the top 14 last season, the Stade Français will start this new season “With humility and envy”Saturday in Jean-Bouin (1 p.m.) against the promoted Montauban, and in particular “The desire to silence the forecasts”said Louis Carbonel on Thursday, opener of the Parisian club. “We go with humility and envy”insisted the former child prodigy of RC Toulon, then passed by Montpellier and arrived in the summer of 2024 in Paris. “We missed our season last year, but now it’s a past, we are focused on the future and we want to silence the forecasts and try to be as high as possible in the ranking this year”.

To avoid reliving an end of the season fear in the stomach, relegation online in sight, “We really try to reassure ourselves, on our game system, on our identity”explained Carbonel at a press conference. And this identity of “Pink soldiers”it must be that of“A team that does not let go, which tries to send a smart game”said the Parisian opener. “We cannot go from rooster to donkey, we must try to alternate our game intelligently and try to unbride a little, (not) to play with the pressure that we could have last year”.

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“During this preseason, we tried to touch more balls, having a more united team, really working in a team. (…) It is especially the unit that was worked at the start of the season “insisted Louis Carbonel. No question in any case, Thursday, on the side of Paul Gustard, the main coach of the Stade Français, to give himself long-term goals this season, after the club was nevertheless semi-finalist of the Top 14 2023-2024: “It is first Montauban and after that, it’s match per game, month per month, that’s our season”.

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Following a disappointing 2024-2025 season, Stade Français Paris is looking to bounce back in the upcoming Top 14 campaign [[2]].With key players returning and a focus on team cohesion, the “Pink Soldiers” are aiming to improve their performance and climb the rankings. Louis Carbonel, the team’s opener, emphasized the team’s humility and desire to “silence the forecasts” [[2]]. Coach Paul Gustard is taking a match-by-match approach, starting with the opening game against Montauban.

Key Data Points and Comparisons

To provide a clearer picture of Stade Français’s situation, here’s a table summarizing key data, comparing it to their performance last season:

| Metric | 2024-2025 Season | analysis & Outlook |

| ——————— | ——————————— | ————————————————————————————————————————————————– |

| Final ranking | 12th | The team is aiming for a critically important enhancement to avoid the relegation battle. |

| Pre-Season Focus | Team Unity and Game System | Emphasis on a cohesive team and a strategic game plan suggests a focus on improving on-field performance and tactical execution. |

| Key Players | Louis Carbonel (Opener) | Carbonel’s leadership and experience will be crucial to the team’s success. Other players need to step up to improve overall team performance. |

| Coach’s Approach | Match-by-Match | A pragmatic approach focused on short-term goals, prioritizing incremental improvements. |

| 2025-2026 Season Goal | “Silence the Forecasts,” Climb Rankings | The team aims to exceed expectations and show improvements week by week compared to their previous season performance. |

FAQ Section

Q: What were Stade Français’s results in the 2024-2025 Top 14 season?

A: Stade Français finished 12th in the Top 14 last season [[2]].

Q: What are the team’s goals for the upcoming season?

A: The team wants to “silence the forecasts” and climb higher in the rankings [[2]]. Avoiding the relegation zone is certainly a minimum ambition.

Q: Who is the key player to watch for Stade Français?

A: Louis Carbonel,the opening fly-half,is a key player for the team this season [[2]].

Q: What is the coach’s strategy for the season?

A: Coach Paul Gustard is taking a match-by-match approach,focusing on immediate goals [[2]].

Q: Where does Stade Français usually play their home games?

A: Stade Français plays at the Stade Jean-Bouin.

Aiko Tanaka

Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.

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