Lille : The place to be to study and to play Rugby.
The French rugby championship attracts the best players from the rugby world. Lille, situated 1 hour from Paris, 50 minutes from Brussels and 1h30 from London offers you the unique chance to mingle with the best of the best of the rugby world and to experience higher education in a city with 1.5 million warm and welcoming inhabitants and an extremely rich and diverse culture.
At Lille’s European University of rugby, you will not only be able to enhance your international sporting career, but you will also develop crucial skills for success in the business world.
Jean-Claude BRANQUART
President
Lille Métropole Rugby
Lille vous attend !
In between Paris, London and Brussels, the University of Lille in northern France finds itself in an international setting due to the incredibly diverse range of courses it offers. Lille’s 7 universities and 21 ‘grandes écoles’ welcome close to 150 000 students each year, including 14 000 international students. In Lille, proud of its welcoming reputation and culture, you will always feel at home! In June 2011, Lille plays host to the European Universities Rugby 7s championship.Come and satisfy your passion for Rugby and find your future academic course!
Christian Sergheraert
President of Pôle de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur
President of Lille II University
Facts and figures
- 1000 differents courses
- 145 000 students
- 7 Universities
- 4 million inhabitants in the Region Nord-Pas de Calais
- 40 Grandes Ecoles
Testimonies
Jésus : International
“As an Economics student at the University of Seville, I had always wanted to come to France to play professional rugby. I learned about LMR’s project and the opportunity to play top level rugby and continue with my studies in an international city such as Lille, and I thought it was the perfect compromise. After finishing my masters in economics at the University of Lille, I’m now going to do an MBA at the EDHEC, thanks to LMR. I don’t know any other club like this in Europe and I’m sure I made the right choice. »
Juan : International for 15s and 7s with Spain, he will partake in the 2012 Olympic Games.
« Like Jésus, I was looking for new experiences and I wanted a taste of French rugby. I had many offers from French clubs in Pro D2 and Top 14 but the option of combining sport and studying convinced me to sign with LMR. Consequently, I was able to enrol for a joint honours degree at the ICAM, a school of engineering which has an excellent reputation in Spain. Lille really is a very animated city where you quickly feel at home! »
Nicolas Dilhan : Trained at Toulouse, came to Lille at 22 to study health and fitness at the University of Lille II and plays no15 for LMR.
« After Toulouse, I returned home to Lombez-Samatan, to play in the Fédérale 2 league. I wanted to continue training in Sport and Fitness. On the internet I stumbled upon Lille University, and LMR’s website. Subsequently I sent an email to the club to explain my project. Soon after, the club called me and asked me to come to Lille for an interview. Never before had I thought that I would come to Lille to study, let alone to play rugby. My first few dealings with the club and the city quickly reassured me. The club supported my application to the University and 2 weeks later I was accepted. Today I have no regrets whatsoever about my choice and I have to admit that the life in Lille is awesome. »
Isileli Tupou : Tongan international, took part in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
« I arrived in France in 2007 with the Tongan team for the World Cup. Recruited by Auch RFC (Pro D2), I signed a two year contract with them. My goal was to enjoy a rugby career in Europe but not particularly to return to my studies. At the end of my contract with Auch, LMR contacted me, asking if I would like to come and play rugby in the north of France. I was attracted by the sporting project and by the change of scenery. It was a new experience for me to live in a City with an underground system, and shops so close to children’s parks, something my family really enjoyed. Having cousins in London, I noticed that Lille was only 1h20 by train. Now I love the club, and the city, which I’m so proud to represent every game. The training schedule, similar to that of the Pro D2 clubs, allows us the lead a life outside of rugby. For example, the club encouraged me to have French lessons at the University which has allowed me to be much more comfortable in my day-to-day life. I would love to help LMR get promoted to Pro D2. When I return to Tonga, I will take with me excellent memories of Lille and of Rugby in the north. I hope I’ll catch them on TV once they’re in the Top 14. »
