Season 1948/1949

Having finished the 1947/1948 campaign 10th in the First Division, Stade Rennais would have a great subsequent season, achieiving their best league finish since the club went professional in 1932. Despite the departures of three important players in Prouff, Bordier and Hatz, the Red and Blacks would quickly establish themselves in the top-half of the table, thanks in the main to a closely-knit team into which the new recruits quickly integrated with ease. 9th-placed after the first four matches, Stade Rennais University Club would string together five consecutive victories, even partially occupying top spot in the table. From then on, and thanks to an excellent home record (with just one defeat at home in the season), Rennes would not drop below fifth for the rest of the campaign. They would finish the season in a creditable fourth position, in a First Division which was made up of 18 clubs. The Red and Blacks would end up with the second-ranked defence (best in the league at home), and the seventh-rated attack. The most prolific Rennes striker was Jean Grumellon, who ended up fourth in the top-scorers chart with 24 goals to his name. As with the previous season, Stade Rennais University Club were knocked out of the French Cup at the Round of 16 stage, this time by Metz (16th in the First Division), in a 2-4 defeat.