Saint-Raphaël Var Handball, is a team handball club from Saint-Raphaël, Var, France, that plays in the LNH Division 1. Saint-Raphaël Var handball, or SRVHB, is a French handball club based in Saint-Raphael in the Var region, founded in 1963. The first team has been playing in Division 1 since the 2007–2008 season and has been coached since 2019 by Rareș Fortuneanu assisted by Wissem Hmam, both former players of the club.
Even if the club has not won a title, apart from the French D2 Championship in 2007, it has accumulated places of honor including a French runner-up title in 2016, three League Cup finals, a Champions Trophy final in 2015 and an EHF European Cup (C3) final in 2018.
History The original club was founded in 1959. It was after the disaster of the Malpasset dam in Frejus on 2 December 1959 that the leaders of the two cities merged the volleyball sections of the football clubs of the two cities, the Etoile Sportive Fréjussienne and the Stade Raphaélois to create the Association Sportive Fréjus Saint-Raphaël, commonly known as ASFSR. It was in 1963, at the initiative of René Cenni, that the handball section was born. Marcel Tafani was then appointed president of the section.
In 1971, the handball section created a women's team and found a home in a sports hall inaugurated on 7 November 1972 during a match against Draguignan: the Esterel sports hall. In 1974, the town of Fréjus created the AMSLF. The Raphael section, freshly promoted to National 3, was destabilized by the loss of many elements and went down to the regional championship the following year. Three years later, in 1977, the club lost its inter-municipal status. It lost its "F" and became A. S. S. R. for Association Sportive Saint-Raphaël. Over time, the club grew and evolved. It reached the National 3 level in 1983, National 2 in 1992 and National 1 in 1994.
In 1995, the section separated from the communal club and the club was created under the name Saint-Raphaël Var Handball. The club finally reached the elite in 2004 but was relegated the following season to D2. The Palais des sports Jean-François-Krakowski was inaugurated in 2005 during a gala match against Chambéry. The club returned to the LNH two years later, in 2007, after winning the D2 championship.
Since his return in elite, coach Christian Gaudin has made the club one of the best in France, finishing 4th in 2010 and 2011 and 3rd in 2012. The club also reached the League Cup final three times (2010, 2012 and 2014), losing three times to Montpellier AHB. On March 18, 2014, the club's president announced, a year in advance, the end of Christian Gaudin's contract. He was replaced by Joël da Silva, from Toulouse, who allowed the club to reach a new level by returning to 3rd place in 2015 and becoming vice-champion of France in 2016. Under his orders, the club also reached the final of the EHF European Cup in 2018, where they lost to German club Füchse Berlin. With his contract set to expire in June 2019, Joel Da Silva has been replaced by his assistant Rareș Fortuneanu as coach. The former Romanian international, who played for Saint-Raphaël, has been assistant coach for the last 4 seasons. His assistant, Wissem Hmam also knew the SRVHB as a player.
In October 2020, Jean-François Krakowski decided to retire after 33 years at the head of the club and was replaced by Emmanuel Murzereau.
Prize list {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; margin:auto;" |- style="color:#ffffff; background:#022662; text-align:center;" | width="50%" | ‘National competitions''' | width="50%" | ‘International competitions|- |valign="top"| France championship (0) Vice-champion (1) : 2016. Third : 2012, 2015. French Cup (0)Semi-finalist : 1996 and 2003. League's Cup (0)Finalist : 2010, 2012 and 2014. Champions Trophy (0) Finalist : 2015, 2018. French D2 Championship (1)Champion : 2007.
|valign="top"| EHF Cup(C3) (0) Finalist : 2018. Fourth : 2017.
Season by season review (from 2001)
Season Div. Ranking French Cup League's Cup Champion's Trophy European Cups1993-1994Nat.1 FinalistN.QNo competitionNo competitionN.Q1994-1995Div.2 8th2nd roundNo competitionNo competitionN.Q1995-1996Div.2 7th1/2 finalNo competitionNo competitionN.Q1996-1997Div.2 12th?No competitionNo competitionN.Q1997-1998Nat.1 ?1/8 finalNo competitionNo competitionN.Q1998-1999Nat.1? ??No competitionNo competitionN.Q1999-2000Nat.1? ??No competitionNo competitionN.Q2000-2001Nat.1? ??No competitionNo competitionN.Q2001-2002Nat.1 2nd1/64 finalN.QNo competitionN.Q2002-2003Div.2 10th1/2 finalN.QNo competitionN.Q2003-2004Div.2 2ndNo competitionN.QNo competitionN.Q2004-2005Div.1 14th?N.QNo competitionN.Q2005-2006Div.2 4th?N.QNo competitionN.Q2006-2007Div.2 1st1/32 finalN.QNo competitionN.Q2007-2008Div.1 6th1/4 final1/8 finalNo competitionN.Q2008-2009Div.1 6th1/8 final1/8 finalNo competitionN.Q2009-2010Div.1 4th1/4 finalFinalNo competitionN.Q2010-2011Div.1 4th1/8 final1/4 finalN.QC3 : 1/4 final2011-2012Div.1 3rd1/4 finalFinal3rdC3 : 1/4 final2012-2013Div.1 6th1/16 final1st round N.Q C3 : 3rd round2013-2014Div.1 6th1/8 finalFinal N.Q N.Q2014-2015Div.1 3rd1/8 final1/4 final N.Q N.Q2015-2016Div.1 2nd1/4 final1/4 finalFinalC3 : 1/4 final2016-2017Div.1 4th1/4 final1/2 final4thC3 : 4th place2017-2018Div.1 4th1/4 final1/8 final4thC3 : Final2018-2019Div.1 7th1/8 final1/2 finalFinalC3 : 1/4 final2019-2020Div.1 8th1/8 final1/8 final N.Q N.Q2020-2021Div.1 In progressIn progressNo competitionNo competitionN.Q
European record
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate 2025–26 EHF European LeagueQR Mors-Thy Håndbold 45–32 35–32 80–64Group Stage SG Flensburg-Handewitt 29–36 30–32 3rd place AHC Potaissa Turda 42–24 34–25 Irudek Bidasoa Irún 35–32 25–33 2018–19 EHF CupR3 Maccabi Srugo Rishon LeZion 27–30 36–29 63–59Group Stage Füchse Berlin 34–31 29–33 2nd place Logroño La Rioja 30–26 28–29 Balatonfüredi 27–23 32–27QF FC Porto 30–30 30–34 60–64 2017–18 EHF CupR3 RK Dubrava 40–29 41–31 81–60Group Stage Füchse Berlin 25–34 26–21 2nd place Helvetia Anaitasuna 36–27 38–29 Lugi HF 28–26 30–28QF Fraikin Granollers 37–23 30–40 67–63SF SC Magdeburg 28–27Final Füchse Berlin 25–28 2016–17 EHF CupR3 SKA Minsk 33–25 28–30 61–55Group Stage Füchse Berlin 27–21 31–33 2nd place GOG 32–36 32–28 RD Ribnica 26–22 31–24QF MT Melsungen 30–26 31–23 61–49SF Füchse Berlin 24–35Third place SC Magdeburg 31–32
Evolution of the SRVHB budget Season Budget Evolution2011/12€24400002012/13€28756002013/14€35000002014/15€3590000 2015/16€3720000 2016/17€40000002017/18€41800002018/19€42000002019/20€42800002020/21€3890000
Current squad
Squad of 2023-2024 season
Goalkeepers 1 Rangel da Rosa 16 Mickaël Robin Wingers LW 20 Raphaël Caucheteux 97 Drevy Paschal RW 10 Martial Caïs 24 Arthur Vigneron
Line players 8 Jonathan Mapu 36 Johannes Marescot 66 Antoine-Xavier Armani
Back players LB 15 Nik Henigman 17 Benjamin Bataille 22 Noah Kouadio CB 5 Mihailo Vojinovic 9 Chema Márquez 28 Sergio Pérez Manzanares RB 32 Adrien Dipanda (c) 93 Mike Brasseleur
Transfers Transfers for the 2026–27 season
Joining Illia Blyzniuk (RB) from HCB Karvináhttps://www.lnh.fr/lnh/news/illia-blyzniuk-rejoint-saint-raphael-var-handball-pour-deux-prochaines-saisons Noah Kouadio (LB) back from loan at US Saintes Handball
Leaving Chema Márquez (LB) to BM Proin Trianahttps://as.com/masdeporte/antonio-garcia-llegara-a-sevilla-con-urios-y-chema-marquez-f202605-n/ Andreas Lang (RB) to HØJ Elitehttps://hojelitehaandbold.dk/en/nyheder/svenske-andreas-lang-fastholder-sin-aftale-med-hoj-elite Drevy Paschal (LW) to Montpellier Handballhttps://www.lnh.fr/lnh/news/drevy-paschal-quittera-saint-raphael-var-handball-fin-de-saison
Transfer History
Transfers for the 2025–26 seasonJoining Jorge Pérez Molina (GK) from CB Cangas Marc Leyvigne (RW) from Nancy Handball Antonin Mohamed (LW) from Saran Loiret Handball
Leaving Rangel da Rosa (GK) to S.L. Benficahttps://www.flashscore.pt/noticias/andebol-brasileiro-rangel-da-rosa-e-o-novo-guarda-redes-do-benfica/8AqxwPAL/ Martial Caïs (RW) to Póvoa AC Noah Kouadio (LB) on loan at US Saintes Handball
Club-related players
In 'bold' , players currently at the club. Aurélien Abily : from 2009 to 2018. Arnór Atlason : from 2013 to 2016. Xavier Barachet : from 2013 to 2014 since 2017. Johan Boisedu : from 2007 to 2010. Raphaël Caucheteux : since 2007. Adrien Dipanda : since 2012. Slaviša Đukanović : from 2007 to 2017. Dan Rares Fortuneanu : from 2004 to 2013. Christian Gaudin : from 2003 to 2006. Wissem Hmam : from 2014 to 2018. David Juříček : from 2011 to 2013. Miroslav Jurka : from 2013 to 2019.
Nicolas Krakowski : from 2007 to 2021. Geoffroy Krantz : from 2011 to 2018. Alexander Lynggaard : from 2013 to 2020. Heykel Megannem : from 2009 to March 2013. Nicolas Moretti : from 2007 to 2013. Morten Olsen : from 2013 to 2015. Yohann Ploquin : from 2009 to 2013. Mihai Popescu : since 2016. Daniel Sarmiento Melián : since 2016. Alexandru Șimicu : since 2015. Jan Stehlík : from 2009 to 2017. Arthur Vigneron : since 2012.
Individual distinctions Season Laureates Positions2014-2015 Adrien Dipanda Best Right Backcourt 2015-2016 Joël da Silva Best coach2017-2018 Raphaël CaucheteuxTop scorer with 167 goals. 2018-2019 Raphaël CaucheteuxTop scorer with 179 goals.2019-2020 Raphaël CaucheteuxTop scorer with 145 goals.
Top scorers in the history of SRVHB in the league In 'bold' , players currently at the club. Updated on April 30, 2020. N° Players Nbr. of matches Nbr. Of goals Nat. Passed in France by1Raphaël Caucheteux330 1826Montpellier HB (25 matches - 30 goals)2Aurélien Abily205699Angers Noyant and Aurillac HB CA (24 matches - 121 goals)3Adrien Dipanda189508Montpellier HB (59 matches - 73 goals)4Jan Stehlik1694945Dan Rares Fortuneanu1574496Heykel Megannem90405SC Sélestat, USAM Nîmes (47 matches - 279 goals) and Montpellier HB (26 matches - 72 goals)7Alexander Lynggaard1553828Alexandre Tomas148344Montpellier HB (49 matches - 69 goals) and Tremblay-en-France (50 matches - 108 goals)9Miroslav Jurka12630210Alexandru Șimicu9129111Arnaud Chapuis7928012Daniel Sarmiento Melián7727213Johan Boisedu70263Saint-Marcel Vernon Handball (22 matches - 140 goals) and US Ivry (13 matches - 25 goals)14Geoffroy Krantz107261Montpellier HB (67 matches - 120 goals)15Morten Olsen45222
Other personalities linked to the club In 'bold' , players currently at the club.
Coaches Željko Anić : coach from ? to 2004. Rudy Bertsch : coach from 2004 to 2005. Christian Gaudin : coach from 2005 to 2014. Joël da Silva : coach from 2014 to 2019, assisted by Rareș Fortuneanu. Rareș Fortuneanu : coach since 2019, assisted by Wissem Hmam.
List of presidents Marcel Tafani : 1963-1965 Jacky Soler : 1965-1974 then 1976-1977 Alain Sanchez : 1974-1976 Maurice Odin : 1977-1984 Guy Rivard : 1984-1987 Jean-François Krakowski : 1987-2020 Emmanuel Murzereau : since October 2020
Organigram of SRVHB Saint-Raphaël Var Handball (SAOS)Director's officeChairman of the board : Emmanuel Murzereau Board of directors : Emmanuel Murzereau, Jean-Pierre Gaspari, Frédéric Tibéri, Alain Bessou and Pascal Bacchi General Manager : Émeric Paillasson Supervisory Board (12 members), chaired by Jean-François SaulayTechnical staffCoach : Rareș Fortuneanu Assistant coach : Wissem Hmam Sports manager of the formation center : Romain Conte Logistics manager : Pierre LuhernMedical staffClub doctor : Dr Michel Ducasse Physiotherapist : Thomas Montagnon and Mickaël Joulin Association (Saint-Raphaël Var Handball Association) President : André Gongora Communication manager : Valentine Dumont-MussoPermanents members of the structure''' Administrative manager : Patricia Garcia-Gaspari Communication / Press Manager : Kelly Texier Marketing Manager / Club of Partners : Adrien Protais
Gallery Players
References
External links