Season 1945/1946

Having achieved promotion in the 1938/1939 season, and with six years of World War II in the intervening years, Stade Rennais finally got to play in the First Division in a professional league, which resumed normally. Naturally there had been lots of movement, both in - and out of - the club. On the departure front, there was Lazennec, Plésiak, Bélunza and Charollais, were amongst those who left Rennes. There were a number of arrivals too, with Henri Guérin, Joseph Rabstejnek and Henri Combot joining the Red and Blacks. Despite an inconsistant start to the season, Rennes would still have a decent season on the whole, finding themselves between 4th and 12th throughout the season. In a evenly-matched top flight, Rennes would finish their season in a creditable fifth place, ending their campaign as they had begun it, with a win and two draws. The Red and Blacks had the fifth-ranked defence, and the tenth-rated attack, in an 18-club league. Joseph Rabstejnek would end up 7th in the top-scorers chart for the First Division, with 18 goals to his name. The only real blemish, in an otherwise good season, came in the French Cup, where Rennes suffered elimination against Le Vésinet, a team lying 9th in the Division d'Honneur, in the Round of 32.