# RFC Tournai

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RFC_Tournai
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RFC_Tournai.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFC_Tournai
> Source revision: 1354644294
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Former Belgian football club

Football club

RFC Tournai Full name Royal Football Club Tournai Founded 1 July 2002; 24 years ago (2002-07-01) Dissolved 3 March 2026; 3 months ago (2026-03-03) Ground Stade Luc Varenne, Tournai Capacity 7,552 2025–26 Belgian Division 2 ACFF, 16th of 16 (relegated) Home colours Away colours

**Royal Football Club Tournai**, commonly known as **RFC Tournai**, was a [Belgian football](/source/Football_in_Belgium) club from [Tournai](/source/Tournai) in the [province of Hainaut](/source/Hainaut_(province)). It was formed on 1 July 2002 by the merger of two older Tournai clubs, Royale Union Sportive Tournaisienne (*[matricule](/source/Football_in_Belgium#Matricule_numbers)* 26, founded 1903) and [Royal Racing Club Tournaisien](/source/RRC_Tournai) (*matricule* 36, founded 1908), retaining the Union's matricule 26—at the time one of the ten oldest still in active use in Walloon football. The club played its home matches at the [Stade Luc Varenne](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stade_Luc_Varenne&action=edit&redlink=1) and was declared bankrupt by the Tournai commercial court on 3 March 2026, leading to the retirement of matricule 26.[1][2]

## History

### Predecessors (1903–2002)

The senior of the two predecessor clubs, Union Sportive Tournaisienne, was founded in [Tournai](/source/Tournai) on 17 April 1903, probably from the union of two unaffiliated local sides, Student Club and Athletic Club, and was admitted to the [Royal Belgian Football Association](/source/Royal_Belgian_Football_Association) as a "club débutant" on 17 November 1903. It first played in the national series in the 1909–10 season and was assigned *[matricule](/source/Matricule)* 26 when the system was introduced in December 1926; the [royal title](/source/Royal_warrant_of_appointment) followed on 22 April 1928, and the club took the name Royale Union Sportive Tournaisienne. The Union's only top-flight season was 1951–52, in which it finished bottom of the [Belgian First Division](/source/Belgian_First_Division) with three wins and 12 points. In 1997, RUS Tournaisienne merged with Sporting Club de Pecq (*matricule* 8786, founded 1981), retaining *matricule* 26.

The [Racing Club Tournaisien](/source/RRC_Tournai) was founded in 1908 by two students, Félix Delannay and Georges Syoen, with a [Catholic](/source/Catholic_Church_in_Belgium) identity in contrast to the Union's more liberal and anticlerical tradition; the two clubs maintained a sustained rivalry over the next nine decades. The Racing Club reached the national series in 1926 and was assigned *matricule* 36; it received the royal title in 1933. Its single greatest achievement, and the club's most enduring legacy, was winning the [1955–56 Belgian Cup](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1955%E2%80%9356_Belgian_Cup&action=edit&redlink=1) while playing in the [Belgian Second Division](/source/Belgian_Second_Division)—a feat not subsequently matched until [KV Mechelen](/source/KV_Mechelen) in 2019.[3]

By the end of the 1990s, both clubs were in financial difficulty. Racing was placed under administrative relegation in 2001 over a bankruptcy filing, and in 2002 the two boards agreed to merge.[1]

### RFC Tournai (2002–2026)

The merger took effect on 1 July 2002, with the new club taking the name Royal Football Club Tournai, retaining *matricule* 26, and adopting red, white and black as its colours; *matricule* 36 was struck off.[1] The merged club began in the third tier and oscillated between the third and fourth tiers in the following two decades.

After more than a decade in the fourth tier, RFC Tournai won the [2022–23 Belgian Division 3](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_Belgian_Division_3) promotion play-offs to return to the fourth tier, and finished fourth in [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_Belgian_Division_2)—sufficient under that season's expansion rules—to earn promotion to the [Belgian National Division 1](/source/Belgian_National_Division_1).[4]

### Decline and bankruptcy (2024–2026)

Following its 2024 promotion to the third tier, the club's on-pitch progress quickly reversed. On 11 May 2025, RFC Tournai lost the final play-down match 2–1 at home to [Standard Liège](/source/Standard_Li%C3%A8ge)'s under-23 side [SL16 FC](/source/SL16_FC) and were relegated back to the fourth tier.[5] Manager [Luigi Nasca](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Luigi_Nasca&action=edit&redlink=1), who had led the back-to-back promotions, had already left in December 2024 for [RAEC Mons](/source/RAEC_Mons_(2015)).[6]

RFC Tournai entered the [2025–26 Belgian Division 2](/source/2025%E2%80%9326_Belgian_Division_2) season with no points from its first eight competitive matches and a divided board, in which a ["French branch"](/source/Hypothetical_partition_of_Belgium#Language_border) linked to a new sporting management group was at odds with the historic Flemish administration under chairman Rudi Lemoine.[7] By February 2026 the club had been placed under a provisional administrator and was facing the prospect of a general forfeit and a two-division punishment drop;[8] on 3 March 2026 the Tournai commercial court declared the club bankrupt, retiring *matricule* 26.[1][2]

## Stadium

RFC Tournai played at the [Stade Luc Varenne](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stade_Luc_Varenne&action=edit&redlink=1) in Tournai. The Union's earlier ground, the Stade Gaston Horlait—later renamed the Stade Magdeleine Lefebvre—sat near the city's hospital and accommodated up to 10,000 spectators in its [1951–52 First Division season](/source/1951%E2%80%9352_Belgian_First_Division); it stood on the original Plaine des Hôpitaux site occupied by the Union from its 1903 foundation until 2004.

## Honours

- **[Belgian Cup](/source/Belgian_Cup)** - Winners: [1955–56](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1955%E2%80%9356_Belgian_Cup&action=edit&redlink=1) (as [Royal Racing Club Tournaisien](/source/RRC_Tournai))

- **[Belgian Promotion](/source/Belgian_Promotion)** (historic fourth tier) - Champions: 2004–05

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dh-faillite_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dh-faillite_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-dh-faillite_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-dh-faillite_1-3) Dumont, Nathalie (17 May 2026). ["Avec la faillite du RFC Tournai, c'est un vieux matricule du foot wallon qui disparaît"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260314133158/https://www.dhnet.be/regions/tournai-ath-mouscron/2026/03/03/avec-la-faillite-du-rfc-tournai-cest-un-vieux-matricule-du-foot-wallon-qui-disparait-4O7GMVIY6VB55BATUZLR6QQVUI/) [With the bankruptcy of RFC Tournai, an old registration number of Walloon football disappears]. *[DHnet](/source/La_Derni%C3%A8re_Heure)* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.dhnet.be/regions/tournai-ath-mouscron/2026/03/03/avec-la-faillite-du-rfc-tournai-cest-un-vieux-matricule-du-foot-wallon-qui-disparait-4O7GMVIY6VB55BATUZLR6QQVUI/) on 14 March 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lavenir-matricule_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lavenir-matricule_2-1) Dumont, Nathalie (4 March 2026). ["Avec la faillite du RFC Tournai, c'est un vieux matricule du football wallon qui disparaît"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260307231935/https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1-d2-d3-acff/2026/03/04/avec-la-faillite-du-rfc-tournai-cest-un-vieux-matricule-du-football-wallon-qui-disparait-EYLAMSZF3BEMNK3BR7HAHWUYRQ/) [With the bankruptcy of RFC Tournai, an old registration number of Walloon football disappears]. *[L'Avenir](/source/L'Avenir_(Belgian_newspaper))* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1-d2-d3-acff/2026/03/04/avec-la-faillite-du-rfc-tournai-cest-un-vieux-matricule-du-football-wallon-qui-disparait-EYLAMSZF3BEMNK3BR7HAHWUYRQ/) on 7 March 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Frans, Koen (26 April 2023). ["Vier jaar geleden won KV Mechelen de beker… als tweedeklasser: "We hadden krampen tot achter onze oren""](https://www.nieuwsblad.be/sport/voetbal/vier-jaar-geleden-won-kv-mechelen-de-beker...-als-tweedeklasser-we-hadden-krampen-tot-achter-onze-oren/26147018.html) [Four years ago KV Mechelen won the cup... as a second division side: 'We had cramps up to our ears']. *Het Nieuwsblad* (in Flemish). Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Malice, Florent (19 May 2024). ["Un club hennuyer historique proche de retrouver les divisions nationales... s'il obtient sa licence"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240624063015/https://www.walfoot.be/news/2024-05-19/un-club-hennuyer-historique-proche-de-retrouver-les-divisions-nationales-sil-obtient-sa-licence) [A historic Hainaut club close to returning to the national divisions... if they obtain their licence]. *Walfoot.be* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.walfoot.be/news/2024-05-19/un-club-hennuyer-historique-proche-de-retrouver-les-divisions-nationales-sil-obtient-sa-licence) on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-notele_5-0)** ["Football D1 ACFF : battu par le Standard de Liège B, le RFC Tournai bascule en D2"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260517150809/https://www.notele.be/si103-media157874-d1-acff-battu-par-le-standard-de-liege-b-le-rfc-tournai-bascule-en-d2.html) [Football D1 ACFF: beaten by Standard de Liège B, RFC Tournai drop to D2]. *Notélé* (in French). 11 May 2025. Archived from [the original](https://www.notele.be/si103-media157874-d1-acff-battu-par-le-standard-de-liege-b-le-rfc-tournai-bascule-en-d2.html) on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dh-sl16_6-0)** ["Pourquoi Tournai – SL16 est plus important que Malines – Standard ce week-end"](https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/division-1a/standard/2025/05/09/pourquoi-tournai-sl16-est-plus-important-que-malines-standard-ce-week-end-3OXHJGSPMZDCXLPXQAW2NOEQZA/). *DH Les Sports +* (in French). 9 May 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rtbf1_7-0)** Bughin, Philippe (8 October 2025). ["Où va le RFC Tournai (D2 acff) ?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20251008054830/https://www.rtbf.be/article/ou-va-le-rfc-tournai-d2-acff-11612566) [Where is RFC Tournai (D2 ACFF) heading?]. *RTBF* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.rtbf.be/article/ou-va-le-rfc-tournai-d2-acff-11612566) on 8 October 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-rtbf2_8-0)** Bughin, Philippe (25 February 2026). ["Comment ne pas imaginer le tout prochain forfait général du RFC Tournai (D2 acff) ?"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260225150658/https://www.rtbf.be/article/comment-ne-pas-imaginer-le-tout-prochain-forfait-general-du-rfc-tournai-d2-acff-11685315) [How can one not imagine the imminent general withdrawal of RFC Tournai (D2 ACFF)?]. *RTBF* (in French). Archived from [the original](https://www.rtbf.be/article/comment-ne-pas-imaginer-le-tout-prochain-forfait-general-du-rfc-tournai-d2-acff-11685315) on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.

## External links

- [RFC Tournai official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20260315211919/https://www.rfct.be/) (archived)

- [Belgian football clubs history](http://users.skynet.be/pluto/Textbelgium/Teams.html)

- [RSSSF Archive 1st and 2nd division final tables](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belghist.html)

v t e Belgian Pro League Seasons 1895–96 1896–97 1897–98 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25 2025–26 2026–27 Clubs 2026–27 clubs Anderlecht Antwerp Beveren Cercle Brugge Charleroi Club Brugge Genk Gent Kortrijk La Louvière Lommel OH Leuven Mechelen Sint-Truiden Standard Liège Union SG Westerlo Zulte Waregem Former clubs Active Beerschot Berchem Crossing Schaerbeek Dender EH Eupen Léopold Club Bruxelles Olympic Charleroi Patro Eisden Maasmechelen Racing Bruxelles Racing Gand Racing Jet Bruxelles Racing Mechelen RFC Liège RWDM Brussels Seraing (1922) Tienen RUS Tournai Tubantia Tubize Turnhout Defunct Eendracht Aalst AS Oostende Beerschot AC Beerschot VAC Belgica Edegem Beringen KSK Beveren Boom Athletic Club Bruxelles Daring Bruxelles Excelsior Bruxelles FC Bruxelles Olympia Bruxelles Skill Bruxelles Sporting Bruxelles Diest Germinal Beerschot Harelbeke Hasselt Heusden-Zolder Ixelles La Forestoise RAA La Louvière Lierse Lokeren Lommel Lyra Mons Montegnée Excel Mouscron Excelsior Mouscron Oostende Roeselare RWDM (1909) Seraing (1904) Sint-Niklaas Stade Leuven Tilleur Tongeren RRC Tournai Uccle Verbroedering Geel Verviétois Waregem Waterschei Statistics and awards Teams Champions Top scorers Current managers Professional footballer of the Year Golden Shoe Ebony Shoe Lion Award

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RFC Tournai](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFC_Tournai) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFC_Tournai?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.