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The French Cup team format
The pétanque French Cup pits the best clubs in France against each other in a team format that is one of a kind. Each match unfolds in three successive phases, with the stakes ramping up progressively. This hybrid format demands versatility and squad depth: you have to excel in singles, in doublettes and ideally in triplettes to go all the way.
The subtlety of this format lies in the fact that a team dominant enough in the singles can wrap up the match as early as the doublettes, without ever playing the triplettes. That's exactly what Arlanc achieved throughout the 2026 Grand 8 — a performance that illustrates the depth and consistency of the Arlancois squad.
The Arlancois armada: legends and talent united
Pétanque Arlancoise, a club from Puy-de-Dôme in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, arrived at the Boulodrome du Douaisis as the defending champion. And with a dizzying lineup, bringing together several of the greatest names in the history of boules.
Philippe Suchaud, a three-time world champion, put in a remarkable Grand 8 with 10 wins in the competition. Alongside them, Christian Fazzino and Angélique Colombet once again showed why they are among the stalwarts of the discipline. Behind these legends, players like Monros, Bégon or Dauphant bring the depth and the collective understanding that make this group's strength.
What's impressive about Arlanc is the total absence of weakness. In a format where a single lost doublette is enough to open the door to the opposing triplettes, the Auvergnats never wavered. Finishing a competition of 8 matches without ever playing the triplettes is domination of an extraordinary kind.
A bulldozer of a weekend
From the quarter-finals to the final, Arlanc conceded no passage into the triplettes. In the quarters, the semis, and the final, the Puy-de-Dôme club wrapped up its matches as early as the doublettes each time — a rare feat in a competition where the best clubs in France face off.
Historic fact: Arlanc played no triplettes at all during the 2026 Grand 8. Across the 3 matches (quarter, semi, final), the club systematically closed things out before reaching the triplette phase, an exceptional consistency against the best French clubs.
This domination is explained in particular by the quality of the singles, a phase in which Arlanc piled up decisive points in every match. When a team leads after the 6 individual duels with a comfortable advantage, the opponent has to win almost all the doublettes to hope to come back — a colossal challenge against players of the calibre of Colombet-Fazzino or Monros-Bégon.
The final: Arlanc vs la Boule Tropézienne
In the final, it's Boule Tropézienne (Saint-Tropez, Var) that stands against the Auvergnats. A prestigious opponent, armed to the teeth, notably with the duo Cindy Peyrot – Marcel Gbetable, one of the most formidable doublettes on the circuit.
After a singles phase where Arlanc takes a decisive lead, the doublettes begin with the Arlancois in a position of strength. Three duels, three stakes:
Final rundown — Doublette phase
| Arlanc doublette | Score | Saint-Tropez doublette | Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monros – Bégon | 13–1 | Dubois – Mallet | ✓ Arlanc |
| Suchaud – Dauphant | 7–13 | Peyrot – Gbetable | ✓ Saint-Tropez |
| Colombet – Fazzino | — | Poinsot – Gasparini | ✓ Arlanc 🏆 |
Monros-Bégon open the ball with a crushing 13-1 win over Dubois-Mallet, taking Arlanc to the brink of the title. But la Boule Tropézienne responds with its star duo: Cindy Peyrot and Marcel Gbetable win 13-7 against Suchaud-Dauphant and score the first Saint-Tropez point of the weekend. Hope is there.
That's when Colombet and Fazzino enter the scene. Two legends for a decisive doublette. Against Poinsot-Gasparini, the Auvergnats dominate their subject and close out the match: Arlanc are 2026 French champions, for the second year in a row.
Decisive sequence: when Peyrot-Gbetable score Saint-Tropez's first point by winning their doublette, the Tropéziens crack the door open. But facing them, Colombet-Fazzino show their champion's nerves and close the file for good. Arlancois class, right to the end.
Honours and lineup
With this second consecutive crown, Arlanc joins the very select circle of clubs able to string together two French Cups. The performance is all the more remarkable as the Grand 8 brings together the best clubs in France every year, with lineups that have no weakness on paper.
Composition of the champion team
| Player | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Philippe Suchaud | Singles / Doublette | ★ Legend |
| Christian Fazzino | Doublette (with Colombet) | ★ Legend |
| Angélique Colombet | Doublette (with Fazzino) | ★ Legend |
| Benoît Monros | Doublette (with Bégon) | Starter |
| Cyril Bégon | Doublette (with Monros) | Starter |
| William Dauphant | Doublette (with Suchaud) | Starter |
| Antoine Cano | Squad | Starter |
| Romain Billaud | Squad | Starter |
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 pétanque French Cup?
Pétanque Arlancoise (Arlanc, Puy-de-Dôme) won the 2026 French Cup at the Grand 8 at the Boulodrome du Douaisis. It's the second consecutive title for this Auvergnat club, which had already triumphed at the same venue in 2025.
What is the format of the French Cup Grand 8?
The Grand 8 pits 8 qualified clubs against each other in a team format: 6 singles (2 pts each), 3 doublettes (3 pts each) and 2 triplettes (5 pts each). The first team to reach 16 points wins the match. It's possible to wrap things up as early as the doublette phase if the advantage is sufficient.
Did Arlanc play any triplettes at the 2026 Grand 8?
No. That's one of the standout facts of this Grand 8: Arlanc never needed to play the triplettes in the quarter-finals, semi-finals or final. The Puy-de-Dôme club systematically closed out its matches as early as the doublette phase, proof of total domination over the whole weekend.
Who are Arlanc's key players at the 2026 French Cup?
Philippe Suchaud (10 wins in the competition), Christian Fazzino and Angélique Colombet were the dominant figures. The Monros-Bégon doublette also stood out with a 13-1 win in the final. In total, eight players made up the champion squad: Suchaud, Fazzino, Colombet, Bégon, Monros, Cano, Billaud and Dauphant.
Where can I find the results of other pétanque competitions?
PetanqueLand regularly publishes recaps of the major national and international pétanque competitions. Check the Official Recaps section or our home page to find the results of the French Championships, Cups and major tournaments.
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