USA Perpignan

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l'Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignan (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. It currently competes in the top level of the French league system.

Founded in 1902 as AS Perpignan, renamed US Perpignan in 1919 and finally USA Perpignan in 1933. They play at Stade Aimé Giral (capacity 13,000). They wear the red and gold of the Catalan flag. Like FC Barcelona in Southern Catalonia in Spain, USAP is a Catalan nationalist icon in Northern Catalonia in France.

History

Under the new club name, US Perpignan made it to the final of the French championship three seasons after the change. On the 17th of April in 1921, Perpignan defeated Stade Toulousain five points to nil at Parc des Sports de Sauclières in Béziers and thus claiming their second premierhsip. Three seasons later, the finalists of 1921 would meeet again in the final of 1924, though this time Toulouse won the game, three points to nil 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 AS Carcassonne in Narbonne, and defeated them five points to nil to win the 1925 premiership. For the third season in succession, US Perpignan made it to the final. The opponants were Stade Toulousain once again, the two sides had each defeated each other once in a final in recent years. Toulouse won 11 points to nil in Bordeaux. After the prominant dominance in the mid 1920s, Perpignan did not make any more final appearances after 1926.

Nearly a decade passed before Perpignan would make another final appearance. It was the 1935 season that Perpignan faced off against Biarritz in the final at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on the 12th of May. Biarritz won the final three to nil. That season they also won the Challenge Yves-of-Manor. Three seasons later Perpignan were again involved in the premiership final, again against the Biarritz team. The final was played on May 8, and this time, Perpignan defeated Biarritz, winning 11 points to six to claim their first premiership since 1921. They were also runner-ups of the Challenge Yves-of-Manor that same season as well.

The success continued throughout the late 1930s, with Perpignan again being runner-ups of the Challenge Yves-of-Manor in 1936. It was also the 1936 season that Biarritz and Perpignan would face off in the premiership. Both of Perpignan's last two final apperances were against Biarritz, and both Perpignan and Biarritz had won one each against each other. The final took place on April 30, and Biarritz turned out to be victorious, defeating Perpignan six points to nil. Two years later, Perpignan were in the final of the Challenge Yves-of-Manor, 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 the 26th of March to decide who would be the champions of France. Perpignan won, defeating Aviron Bayonnais 20 points to five, claiming their first premiership 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 points to 11. However, both sides would meet in another final three years later to decide the 1955 premiership. This time Perpignan emerged victorious, defeating FC Lourdes 11 points to six in Bordeaux. Perpignan also won the Challenge Yves-of-Manor during the 1955 season, and were runner-ups the following year as well.

Perpignan won the Challenge Yves-of-Manor in 1965, but made their first final appearance 20 years after 1955, to decide the 1977 season premiership. They met AS Béziers in the final, who defeated Perpignan 12 to four at Parc des Princes. Perpignan won the Challenge Yves-of-Manor in 1994, but they would next appear in the final in 1998, where they went down to Stade Français 34 points to seven 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. They currently lead the División de Honor, the national premiership 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 points to 20 at Stade de France in front of 79,722 people.

Club honors

• French premiership 1914, 1921, 1925, 1938, 1944, 1955
• *More recently, USAP was runner-up in 1998 and 2004.
• French cup 1935 1955 1994
• Heineken Cup Runner-up, 2003

Finals results

French championship

Heineken Cup

Stade Toulousain

USA Perpignan

Famous players

• Perry Freshwater (England)
• Daniel Herbert (Australia)
• Nathan Hines (Scotland)
• Ramiro Pez (Italy)
• Viliami Vaki (Tonga)

Former players

• Thierry Lacroix (France)
• Dan Luger (England)

External links

• [Official site] ()/()
• [Official Fans site of Perpignan in Paris] ()
• [USAP Barcelona] Brother rugby union club in Barcelona ()
• [Angelets de la Terra] - Catalanist fan site
• [Data, results, etc]

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