USA Perpignan
Encyclopedia
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais (French
) or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà (Catalan
), generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French
rugby union
club that plays in the city of Perpignan
in Pyrénées-Orientales
. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French league system. USAP finished their most recent season of 2009–10
in first on the Top 14 table, but lost in the championship final to Clermont
.
The club was founded in 1902 as AS Perpignan, renamed US Perpignan in 1919 and adopted its present name in 1933. Perpignan plays at Stade Aimé Giral
(capacity 14 593). The club wears the Catalan red and gold (Sang i Or = Blood and Gold) colours.
8–7 at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse
in front of 15,000 people. Several of these champions were killed some months later in World War I and, to honour their sacrifice, it was decided to colour USAP jersey like a Poilu
uniform.
Four years after the championship in 1914, the club was renamed as US Perpignan. Under the new club name, US Perpignan made it to the final of the French championship three seasons after the change. On 17 April 1921, Perpignan defeated Stade Toulousain
5–0 at Parc des Sports de Sauclières in Béziers
and thus claiming their second championship. Three seasons later, the finalists of 1921 would meet again in the final of 1924, though this time Toulouse won the game 3–0 in Bordeaux
.
The success continued throughout the 1920s, and following the final defeat of the 1934 season, US Perpignan were able to make it to the final of the 1925 season. They faced US Carcassonne
in Narbonne
, and defeated them 5–0 to win the 1925 Championship. For the third season in a row, US Perpignan made it to the final. The opponents were Stade Toulousain once again, the two sides had each defeated each other once in a final in recent years. Toulouse won 11–0 in Bordeaux. After their prominence in the mid 1920s, Perpignan's final appearance in 1926 was their last for nearly a decade.
Perpignan's next final appearance came in 1935 against Biarritz
at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on the 12th of May, with Biarritz winning 3–0. That season they also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
. Three seasons later Perpignan were again involved in the Championship final against Biarritz. The final was played on 8 May, and this time, Perpignan defeated Biarritz, winning 11–6 to claim their first Championship since 1921. They were also runners-up of the Challenge Yves-du-Manoir that same season as well.
The success continued throughout the late 1930s, with Perpignan again being runners-up of the Challenge Yves du Manoir
in 1936. It was also the 1936 season that Biarritz and Perpignan would face off in the Championship. Both of Perpignan's last two final appearances were against Biarritz, and both Perpignan and Biarritz had won one each against each other. The final took place on 30 April, and Biarritz turned out to be victorious, defeating Perpignan 6–0. Two years later, Perpignan were in the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir
, but became runners-up.
Their next final appearance would not be until the season of 1944. Perpignan played Aviron Bayonnais
at Parc des Princes
in Paris
on 26 March to decide who would be the champions of France. Perpignan won, defeating Aviron Bayonnais 20–5, claiming their first Championship since 1938.
Perpignan would have to wait another eight years until they would make it to the final again. In the 1952 season, Perpignan met FC Lourdes
in the final at Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, where they went down to FC Lourdes 20–11. However, both sides would meet in another final three years later to decide the 1955 Championship. This time Perpignan emerged victorious, defeating FC Lourdes 11–6 in Bordeaux. Perpignan also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
during the 1955 season, and were runners-us the following year as well.
Perpignan won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
in 1965, but made their first final appearance 20 years after 1955, to decide the 1977 season Championship. They met AS Béziers in the final, who defeated Perpignan 12–4 at Parc des Princes
. Perpignan won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
in 1994, but they would next appear in the final in 1998, where they went down to Stade Français 34–7 in Paris in front of 78,000 people.
In 2002, the club entered into a partnership with the University of Barcelona Rugby Club, hence renaming them USAP Barcelona
, which compete in the División de Honor, the national Championship in Spain
. Perpignan made it to the 2004 final, where they met Stade Français, who defeated them in the 1998 final. Stade Français won again, 38–20 at Stade de France
in front of 79,722 people.
In European competition, USAP reached the final stage in 2003 (losing 21–17 to Toulouse in Dublin Lansdowne Road
) after losing a 1999 semi-final in Toulouse Stadium against Colomiers. They were beaten in the quarter-finals in Lansdowne Road again in 2006 by eventual winners Munster
.
They signed All Blacks
fly-half Dan Carter, widely regarded as one of the world's best players, on a six-month deal starting from December 2008. Carter's stint at Perpignan, however, ended prematurely when he tore an Achilles tendon
.
Their season ended by progressing into the Top 14 semi-final with a 25–21 win over Stade Français and eventually winning it with a fantastic 22–13 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne
in the final. In 2010, they advanced to the final again against Clermont, but the Catalans saw Les Jaunards end decades of frustration by winning their first championship final in 11 tries.
In 2011 they signed a twinning agreement with FC Barcelona of Spain, which proposes USAP to be promoted through FC Barcelona.
Rimas Álvarez Kairelis
Daniel Herbert
Mike James
Phil Murphy
Dan Luger
Samueli Naulu
Puig Aubert
Pascal Bomati
Didier Camberabero
Marc Dal Maso
Nicolas Durand
Bernard Goutta
Raoul Got
Raphaël Ibañez
Jean-Francois Imbernon
Thierry Lacroix
Marc Lièvremont
Thomas Lièvremont
Jo Maso
Christophe Porcu
Mick O'Driscoll
Ramiro Pez
Dan Carter Scott Robertson
Steve Meyer
Percy Montgomery
Nathan Hines
Viliami Vaki
Richard Parks
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
) or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà (Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
), generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club that plays in the city of Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
in Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales
Pyrénées-Orientales is a department of southern France adjacent to the northern Spanish frontier and the Mediterranean Sea. It also surrounds the tiny Spanish enclave of Llívia, and thus has two distinct borders with Spain.- History :...
. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French league system. USAP finished their most recent season of 2009–10
2009–10 Top 14 season
Stade de France was listed as an alternate home for Stade Français because the club hosted five of their 13 home matches this season at the national stadium. Similarly, Stadium Municipal was listed as an alternate home for Toulouse, who normally play two Top 14 matches a year at that facility...
in first on the Top 14 table, but lost in the championship final to Clermont
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
.
The club was founded in 1902 as AS Perpignan, renamed US Perpignan in 1919 and adopted its present name in 1933. Perpignan plays at Stade Aimé Giral
Stade Aimé Giral
Stade Aimé Giral is a multi-purpose stadium in Perpignan, France. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of USA Perpignan...
(capacity 14 593). The club wears the Catalan red and gold (Sang i Or = Blood and Gold) colours.
History
The club was established in 1902 as AS Perpignan. It would be in 1914 that the club would go on to make its first ever final appearance. On 3 May, Perpignan defeated Stadoceste TarbaisTarbes Pyrénées Rugby
Tarbes Pyrénées Rugby is a French rugby union team that currently takes part in Pro D2, the second level of the country's professional league system....
8–7 at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
in front of 15,000 people. Several of these champions were killed some months later in World War I and, to honour their sacrifice, it was decided to colour USAP jersey like a Poilu
Poilu
Poilu is a warmly informal term for a French World War I infantryman, meaning, literally, hairy one. The term came into popular usage in France during the era of Napoleon Bonaparte and his massive citizen armies, though the term grognard was also common. It is still widely used as a term of...
uniform.
Four years after the championship in 1914, the club was renamed as US Perpignan. Under the new club name, US Perpignan made it to the final of the French championship three seasons after the change. On 17 April 1921, Perpignan defeated Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...
5–0 at Parc des Sports de Sauclières in Béziers
Béziers
Béziers is a town in Languedoc in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the Hérault department. Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, every August. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event...
and thus claiming their second championship. Three seasons later, the finalists of 1921 would meet again in the final of 1924, though this time Toulouse won the game 3–0 in Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
.
The success continued throughout the 1920s, and following the final defeat of the 1934 season, US Perpignan were able to make it to the final of the 1925 season. They faced US Carcassonne
US Carcassonne
Union Sportive Carcassonnaise are a French rugby union club based in Carcassonne. US Carcassonne currently compete in the Pro D2 of French rugby. The club were established in 1899. They play in black and yellow colours and at the Stade Albert-Domec...
in Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and defeated them 5–0 to win the 1925 Championship. For the third season in a row, US Perpignan made it to the final. The opponents were Stade Toulousain once again, the two sides had each defeated each other once in a final in recent years. Toulouse won 11–0 in Bordeaux. After their prominence in the mid 1920s, Perpignan's final appearance in 1926 was their last for nearly a decade.
Perpignan's next final appearance came in 1935 against Biarritz
Biarritz Olympique
Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup...
at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on the 12th of May, with Biarritz winning 3–0. That season they also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
. Three seasons later Perpignan were again involved in the Championship final against Biarritz. The final was played on 8 May, and this time, Perpignan defeated Biarritz, winning 11–6 to claim their first Championship since 1921. They were also runners-up of the Challenge Yves-du-Manoir that same season as well.
The success continued throughout the late 1930s, with Perpignan again being runners-up of the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
in 1936. It was also the 1936 season that Biarritz and Perpignan would face off in the Championship. Both of Perpignan's last two final appearances were against Biarritz, and both Perpignan and Biarritz had won one each against each other. The final took place on 30 April, and Biarritz turned out to be victorious, defeating Perpignan 6–0. Two years later, Perpignan were in the final of the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
, but became runners-up.
Their next final appearance would not be until the season of 1944. Perpignan played Aviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais
Aviron Bayonnais is a French rugby union club from Bayonne in Pyrénées-Atlantiques that currently competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14 competition...
at Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on 26 March to decide who would be the champions of France. Perpignan won, defeating Aviron Bayonnais 20–5, claiming their first Championship since 1938.
Perpignan would have to wait another eight years until they would make it to the final again. In the 1952 season, Perpignan met FC Lourdes
FC Lourdes
FC Lourdais is a French rugby union club currently competing in the French league system. Formed in 1911 they have won the French league eight times and the French cup six times. They play in the Stade Antoine-Beguere and traditionally wear blue and red jerseys. Their most notable former player is...
in the final at Stadium Municipal in Toulouse, where they went down to FC Lourdes 20–11. However, both sides would meet in another final three years later to decide the 1955 Championship. This time Perpignan emerged victorious, defeating FC Lourdes 11–6 in Bordeaux. Perpignan also won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
during the 1955 season, and were runners-us the following year as well.
Perpignan won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
in 1965, but made their first final appearance 20 years after 1955, to decide the 1977 season Championship. They met AS Béziers in the final, who defeated Perpignan 12–4 at Parc des Princes
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
. Perpignan won the Challenge Yves du Manoir
Challenge Yves du Manoir
The Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
in 1994, but they would next appear in the final in 1998, where they went down to Stade Français 34–7 in Paris in front of 78,000 people.
In 2002, the club entered into a partnership with the University of Barcelona Rugby Club, hence renaming them USAP Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, which compete in the División de Honor, the national Championship in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Perpignan made it to the 2004 final, where they met Stade Français, who defeated them in the 1998 final. Stade Français won again, 38–20 at Stade de France
Stade de France
The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for...
in front of 79,722 people.
In European competition, USAP reached the final stage in 2003 (losing 21–17 to Toulouse in Dublin Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
) after losing a 1999 semi-final in Toulouse Stadium against Colomiers. They were beaten in the quarter-finals in Lansdowne Road again in 2006 by eventual winners Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
.
They signed All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
fly-half Dan Carter, widely regarded as one of the world's best players, on a six-month deal starting from December 2008. Carter's stint at Perpignan, however, ended prematurely when he tore an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
.
Their season ended by progressing into the Top 14 semi-final with a 25–21 win over Stade Français and eventually winning it with a fantastic 22–13 win over ASM Clermont Auvergne
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...
in the final. In 2010, they advanced to the final again against Clermont, but the Catalans saw Les Jaunards end decades of frustration by winning their first championship final in 11 tries.
In 2011 they signed a twinning agreement with FC Barcelona of Spain, which proposes USAP to be promoted through FC Barcelona.
Club honours
- Top 14
- Champions: 1914, 1921, 1925, 1938, 1944, 1955, 2009 (7 times)
- Runners-up: 1924, 1926, 1935, 1939, 1952, 1977, 1998, 2004, 2010 (9 times)
- Challenge Yves du ManoirChallenge Yves du ManoirThe Challenge Yves du Manoir was a rugby union club competition that was played in France between 1931 and 2003 under different names. It is named after former player Yves du Manoir.-History:...
- Champions: 1935, 1955, 1994 (3 times)
- Runners-up:1936, 1937, 1938, 1956, 1965 (5 times)
- Heineken CupHeineken CupThe Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
- Runners-ups: 2003
French championship
| Date | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Attendance |
| 3 May 1914 | AS Perpignan | Stadoceste Tarbais | 8–7 | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux Stade des Ponts Jumeaux The Stade des Ponts Jumeaux was a rugby union stadium, inaugurated on 24 November 1907, in the Ponts Jumeaux district of Toulouse, south-western France. The land was purchased by the embryonic Stade Toulousain rugby team – with financial assistance from city notables – then headed by a law... , Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
15,000 |
| 17 April 1921 | US Perpignan | Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps... |
5–0 | Parc des Sports de Sauclières, Béziers Béziers Béziers is a town in Languedoc in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the Hérault department. Béziers hosts the famous Feria de Béziers, centred around bullfighting, every August. A million visitors are attracted to the five-day event... |
20,000 |
| 27 April 1924 | Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps... |
US Perpignan | 3–0 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Bordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... |
20,000 |
| 3 May 1925 | US Perpignan | AS Carcassonne AS Carcassonne AS Carcassonne are a professional rugby league football club based in Carcassonne in the south of France. They play in the French rugby league championship and are one of the most successful clubs in French rugby league, having won a total of ten French Championship titles and eleven Lord Derby Cups... |
5–0 | Maraussan Maraussan Maraussan is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.... , Narbonne Narbonne Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea... |
20,000 |
| 2 May 1926 | Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps... |
US Perpignan | 11–0 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Bordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... |
25.000 |
| 12 May 1935 | Biarritz Olympique | USA Perpignan | 3–0 | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux Stade des Ponts Jumeaux The Stade des Ponts Jumeaux was a rugby union stadium, inaugurated on 24 November 1907, in the Ponts Jumeaux district of Toulouse, south-western France. The land was purchased by the embryonic Stade Toulousain rugby team – with financial assistance from city notables – then headed by a law... , Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
23,000 |
| 8 May 1938 | USA Perpignan | Biarritz Olympique | 11–6 | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux Stade des Ponts Jumeaux The Stade des Ponts Jumeaux was a rugby union stadium, inaugurated on 24 November 1907, in the Ponts Jumeaux district of Toulouse, south-western France. The land was purchased by the embryonic Stade Toulousain rugby team – with financial assistance from city notables – then headed by a law... , Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
24,600 |
| 30 April 1939 | Biarritz Olympique Biarritz Olympique Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque is a French professional rugby union team based in the Basque city of Biarritz, Aquitaine which competes in the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup... |
USA Perpignan | 6–0 AP | Stade des Ponts Jumeaux Stade des Ponts Jumeaux The Stade des Ponts Jumeaux was a rugby union stadium, inaugurated on 24 November 1907, in the Ponts Jumeaux district of Toulouse, south-western France. The land was purchased by the embryonic Stade Toulousain rugby team – with financial assistance from city notables – then headed by a law... , Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
23,000 |
| 26 March 1944 | USA Perpignan | Aviron Bayonnais Aviron Bayonnais Aviron Bayonnais is a French rugby union club from Bayonne in Pyrénées-Atlantiques that currently competes in the top level of the French league system, in the Top 14 competition... |
20–5 | Parc des Princes Parc des Princes The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed... , Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... |
35,000 |
| 4 May 1952 | FC Lourdes | USA Perpignan | 20–11 | Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Toulouse Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea... |
32,500 |
| 22 May 1955 | USA Perpignan | FC Lourdes | 11–6 | Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Bordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... |
39,764 |
| 29 May 1977 | AS Béziers | USA Perpignan | 12–4 | Parc des Princes Parc des Princes The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed... , Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... |
41,821 |
| 16 May 1998 | Stade Français | USA Perpignan | 34–7 | Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... , Saint-Denis Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis.... |
78,000 |
| 26 June 2004 | Stade Français | USA Perpignan | 38–20 | Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... , Saint-Denis Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis.... |
79,722 |
| 6 June 2009 | USA Perpignan | ASM Clermont Auvergne ASM Clermont Auvergne Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club... |
22–13 | Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... , Saint-Denis Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis.... |
79,205 |
| 29 May 2010 | ASM Clermont Auvergne ASM Clermont Auvergne Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club... |
USA Perpignan | 19–6 | Stade de France Stade de France The Stade de France is the national stadium of France, situated just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. It has an all-seater capacity of 80,000, making it the fifth largest stadium in Europe, and is used by both the France national football team and French rugby union team for... , Saint-Denis Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis.... |
79,262 |
Heineken Cup
| Date | Winner | Runner-up | Score | Venue | Attendance |
| 24 May 2003 |  Stade Toulousain Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps... |
|
22–17 | Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts... , Dublin |
28,600 |
Current squad
Internationally capped players
| Rimas Álvarez Kairelis Rimas Álvarez Kairelis Rimas Álvarez Kairelis is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Perpignan in the Top 14 in France. He has represented Argentina, and was part of the Argentinian squad at the 2003 and 2007 World Cups... Manny Edmonds Robins Tchale-Watchou Perry Freshwater Perry Freshwater Perry Thomas Freshwater is an English rugby union footballer. He is a loosehead prop and occasional hooker.... Julien Candelon Julien Candelon Julien Candelon is a professional rugby union winger currently playing for USA Perpignan in the Top 14.Candelon has earned two caps for the France national team, the first one coming on June 18, 2005 against South Africa, and scored two tries. He also played for the sevens national team.-References:... Damien Chouly Damien Chouly Damien Chouly is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for USA Perpignan in the Top 14 championship. His usual position is as a lock.... Jean-Philippe Grandclaude Jean-Philippe Grandclaude Jean-Philippe Grandclaude is a French rugby union footballer who plays for USA Perpignan. He mainly plays at centre.His professional career started with Béziers in 1998... Guilhem Guirado Guilhem Guirado Guilhem Guirado is a French rugby union player. Guirado, who is a hooker, plays club rugby for Perpignan. He made his debut for France against Italy on 9 March 2008.... Julien Laharrague Julien Laharrague Julien Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer, usually playing on the wing or at fullback. He currently plays for Aironi in the Magners League . Laharrague has also played for France.... Nicolas Laharrague Nicolas Laharrague Nicolas Laharrague is a French rugby union footballer. Laharrague's main position is centre and fly-half where he plays for USA Perpignan in France's Top 14 championship. Born in Tarbes, Laharrague played in several age group representative sides for France, including Under 19, Under 20, and Under... Grégory Le Corvec Grégory Le Corvec Grégory Le Corvec is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for USA Perpignan in the Top 14 championship. His usual position is as a flanker.... |
David Marty David Marty David Marty is a French rugby union footballer who plays at center three-quarter in the Top 14 competition for Catalan club USA Perpignan, and has also played for France, having played in the 2005 and 2006 Six Nations.... Nicolas Mas Nicolas Mas Nicolas Mas is a Catalan/French rugby union footballer, who currently plays for the USA Perpignan club in the Top 14 French premiership. His usual position is at prop. He also plays for the French national team.... Maxime Mermoz Maxime Mermoz Maxime Mermoz is a professional rugby union centre currently playing for USA Perpignan in the Top 14.Mermoz won the 2006 Under 21 Rugby World Championship. He earned his first cap for the senior France national team on July 5, 2008 against Australia. He made his Six Nations in 2009 debut against... Olivier Olibeau Olivier Olibeau Olivier Olibeau is a French rugby union footballer. He currently plays for USA Perpignan in the Top 14 championship. His usual position is as a lock.... Jérôme Porical Jérôme Porical Jérôme Porical is a professional rugby union fullback currently playing for USA Perpignan in the Top 14. Both his grandfather Paul and his father Gérald played for Perpignan, Paul reaching three French championship finals and winning one in 1938, and Gérald losing the 1977 final... Henry Tuilagi Henry Tuilagi Enele "Henry" Tuilagi is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He currently plays for USA Perpignan in the French club competition, the Top 14, and has appeared four times for his national team Samoa... Gerrie Britz Kisi Pulu Kisi Pulu Kisi Pulu is a rugby union footballer. His usual position is prop. He currently plays with the USA Perpignan in the Top 14 in France.-References:*... Marius Tincu Marius Tincu Marius Tincu is a Romanian rugby union footballer. He plays as a hooker. Since 2007, he holds dual French-Romanian citizenship.... Ovidiu Toniţa Ovidiu Tonita Ovidiu Toniţa is a Romanian rugby union footballer. A former lock and presently a flanker and number 8, he plays for the French side USA Perpignan and for the Romanian national team. He is noted for his size, which is considered unusual for his position on the field... |
Notable former players
Federico Martín AramburúFederico Martín Aramburú
Federico Martín Aramburú is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He plays as a centre for Glasgow Warriors in the RaboDirect Pro12, and for the Argentina. Since his international debut in April 2004, in a match against , Martín Aramburú has played 22 times, scoring 8 tries, including one against ...
Rimas Álvarez Kairelis
Rimas Álvarez Kairelis
Rimas Álvarez Kairelis is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He currently plays for Perpignan in the Top 14 in France. He has represented Argentina, and was part of the Argentinian squad at the 2003 and 2007 World Cups...
Daniel Herbert
Daniel Herbert
Daniel Herbert was born 6 February 1974 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He won 67 caps playing at centre for the Australian rugby union side since 1994. He made his test debut at the age of 20 against Ireland on 11 June 1994. He battled Jason Little for a state and test spot alongside Tim...
Mike James
Mike James (rugby)
Mike B. James is one of a handful of professional Canadian rugby union players. Standing at 196 cm tall and weighing in at 110 kg, James is an imposing figure and is well known for his expertise in the set pieces...
Phil Murphy
Phil Murphy
Phil Murphy is an Irish Canadian rugby union footballer who plays at No 8.He previously played for London Irish and French side Perpignan....
Dan Luger
Dan Luger
Daniel Darko Luger MBE is a former English rugby union international who was a member of the squad that won the Webb Ellis Cup in 2003.- Club career:...
Samueli Naulu
Samueli Naulu
Samueli Dawai Naulu, born 5 February 1982 in Narewa, Nadi is a Fijian rugby union footballer. He plays as a wing. He plays for the USA Perpignan team in the Heineken Cup as well as playing for the same team in the French Top 14 Competition....
Puig Aubert
Puig Aubert
Puig Aubert , was debatably the greatest French rugby league footballer of all-time Over a sixteen year professional career he would play for Carcassonne, XIII Catalan, Celtic de Paris and Castelnaudary winning five French championships and four French cups along with representing the French...
Pascal Bomati
Pascal Bomati
Pascal Bomati , is a French rugby league and rugby union player. He has played for France national rugby league team....
Didier Camberabero
Didier Camberabero
Didier Camberabero , is a former French international rugby union. He played as fly half.-Biography:Didier is son of former international, Guy Camberabero, and nephew of Lilian Camberabero, two brothers who took part in the first Grand Slam won by France...
Marc Dal Maso
Marc Dal Maso
Marc Dal Maso is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a hooker.He played for Stade Montois, moving then to SU Agen. He then would play for Colomiers , Section Paloise and USA Perpignan...
Nicolas Durand
Nicolas Durand
Nicolas Durand is a French rugby union footballer who plays scrum-half for Racing Métro in France's Top 14 competition. His first professional club was Toulouse whom he played for in 2002. From 2002 until 2004 he played for Béziers...
Bernard Goutta
Bernard Goutta
Bernard Goutta , is a retired French rugby league and rugby union player and current rugby union coach. He is now co-head coach of his former union club, USA Perpignan, following the sacking of predecessor Jacques Brunel in November 2011.Goutta began playing Rugby League at with Saint Estève XIII,...
Raoul Got
Raoul Got
Raoul Got was a French rugby union player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was born in Perpignan and died in Perpignan.In 1924 he won the silver medal as member of the French team....
Raphaël Ibañez
Raphaël Ibanez
Raphaël Ibañez is a retired French rugby union footballer. A hooker, he was also a former captain of the France national team.-Club career:...
Jean-Francois Imbernon
Jean-Francois Imbernon
Jean-Francois Imbernon Jean-Francois Imbernon Jean-Francois Imbernon (born October 17, 1951 in Perpignan, France is a retired French international rugby union player.He played as a Lock for USA Perpignan....
Thierry Lacroix
Thierry Lacroix
Thierry Lacroix is a former French rugby union footballer. He won 43 caps playing at fly-half for the French rugby union side. He made his international test debut at the age of 22 on 4 November 1989 as a replacement against Australia. He was part of the winning side in the 1993 Five Nations...
Marc Lièvremont
Marc Lièvremont
Marc Lièvremont is a former rugby union footballer and was the head coach of the French national rugby union team. He played as a back-row forward for France, gaining 25 caps from 1995 to 1999, and was selected in France's 1999 Rugby World Cup squad...
Thomas Lièvremont
Thomas Lièvremont
Thomas Lièvremont is a French rugby union footballer.Thomas Lièvremont was born in Perpignan. He currently coaches Dax in the second division of French rugby, Pro D2, but has agreed to join Top 14 side Bayonne as forwards coach for the 2010–11 season. His usual position was at number-eight...
Jo Maso
Jo Maso
Jo Maso is a former rugby union and rugby league footballer who played centre for Narbonne, Toulonnais, Perpignan and France, gaining 25 caps. His alternative position was fly-half...
Christophe Porcu
Christophe Porcu
Christophe Porcu is a French international rugby union player. He played as a Lock for Agen and USA Perpignan....
Mick O'Driscoll
Mick O'Driscoll
Mick O'Driscoll is an Irish rugby union player. He plays for Munster in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup, and plays internationally for Ireland. He made his Munster debut in 1998 against Neath. His international debut came as a replacement against Romania in 2001...
Ramiro Pez
Ramiro Pez
Ramiro Pez is an Italian Argentine rugby union footballer who normally plays at fly-half. In 2008-09, he joined the newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon, having been signed from Venezia Mestre in the Italian Super 10 competition.He made his international debut with the Italian national team on...
Dan Carter Scott Robertson
Scott Robertson (rugby player)
Scott Robertson is a rugby union footballer, who plays Flanker for Perpignan. He has previously played for Canterbury Crusaders and New Zealand.-All Black's Statistics:Tests: 23 Games: 0...
Steve Meyer
Steve Meyer
This entry is for Steve Meyer the rugby player. For the philosopher of science see Stephen C. Meyer.Steve Meyer is a South African professional rugby union player who plays in the position of flyhalf....
Percy Montgomery
Percy Montgomery
Percival Colin "Percy" Montgomery is a retired South African rugby union player...
Nathan Hines
Nathan Hines
Nathan Hines is an Australian-born Scottish rugby player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne...
Viliami Vaki
Viliami Vaki
Viliami Vaki is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He represented Tonga at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. From 2003 to 2005 he played for Gran Rugby in Italy, but has since moved to USA Perpignan, a team in the French competition, the Top 14....
Richard Parks
Richard Parks
Richard David Parks is a former Wales international rugby union player, representing Newport RFC, Pontypridd RFC, Celtic Warriors, Leeds Tykes, Perpignan and Newport Gwent Dragons at club and regional level. In May 2009 he was forced to retire from rugby due to a shoulder injury...
External links
- Official site:
- Official Fans site of Perpignan in Paris
- USAP Barcelona Brother rugby union club in Barcelona
- Data, results, etc