:USA Perpignan

{{Short description|French rugby union club}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox rugby team

| teamname = USA Perpignan

| image = Usa_perpignan_badge.png

| imagesize = 160px

| fullname = Union sportive arlequins Perpignan-Roussillon

| location = Perpignan, France

| countryflag = France

| founded = {{nobr|{{Start date and age|1902}} (as AS Perpignan)}}
{{nobr|{{Start date and age|1919}} (as US Perpignan)}}
{{nobr|{{Start date and age|1933}} (as USA Perpignan)}}

| ground = Stade Aimé Giral

| capacity = 14,593

| president = François Rivière

| coach = Franck Azéma

| captain = Mathieu Acebes

| league = {{French rugby union updater|Perpignan}}

| season = {{French rugby union updater|Perpignan2}}

| position = {{French rugby union updater|Perpignan3}}

| url = https://www.usap.fr/

| pattern_la1=_USAPerpignan2324h

| pattern_b1=_USAPerpignan2324h

| pattern_ra1=_USAPerpignan2324h

| pattern_sh1=_USAPerpignan2324h

| pattern_so1=_USAPerpignan2324

| leftarm1= 94D4EF

| body1=

| rightarm1= 94D4EF

| shorts1=

| socks1=

| pattern_la2=_USAPerpignan2324a

| pattern_b2=_USAPerpignan2324a

| pattern_ra2=_USAPerpignan2324a

| pattern_sh2=_USAPerpignan2324a

| pattern_so2=_USAPerpignan2324

| leftarm2= FFDC32

| body2=

| rightarm2= FFDC32

| shorts2=

| socks2=

}}

Union Sportive Arlequins Perpignanais, also referred to as USA Perpignan or Perpignan, is a French professional rugby union club founded in 1933 and based in Perpignan, in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. They compete in the Top 14, France's elite division of rugby.

The club is a result of a merger between US Perpignan and Arlequins Perpignanais in 1933. US Perpignan was also born from a union of merging clubs AS Perpignan (founded in 1902) and Stade Olympien Perpignanais, which took place in 1919.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.usapassociation.com/historique-et-palmares |title=Historique et Palmarès du Club de Rugby USAP |website=USAPassociation.com |access-date=15 September 2022}}

Its home ground is the 14,593-capacity Stade Aimé Giral but important fixtures may occasionally be taken to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, in Barcelona.{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.lerugbynistere.fr/news/de-retour-en-top-14-lusap-pourrait-faire-une-infidelite-a-aime-giral-0109181004.php |title=De retour en Top 14, l'USAP pourrait faire une infidélité à Aimé-Giral |last=Perrin |first=Thibault |date=1 September 2018 |website=Le Rugbynistère |access-date=15 September 2022}} The club's colours are sky blue, scarlet and golden yellow, which derived from the Catalan Senyera and gives Perpignan its nickname Les Sang et Or (French for "The Blood and Golds").

History

{{More citations needed section|date=March 2016}}

=Early years=

One of the two merging clubs 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 Tarbais 8–7 at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse in front of 15,000 people. 19-year-old fly-half Aimé Giral converted a late try and went on to become captain. 14 months after their victory, Aimé Giral died alongside seven other members of the team at the outbreak of WW1{{Cite web|url=http://anglophone-direct.com/usap-and-stade-aime-giral/|title=USAP and Stade Aimé Giral|date=2 May 2014|website=www.anglophone-direct.com}} and, to honour their sacrifice, it was decided to colour USAP jersey like a Poilu uniform and to name the stadium after Giral.

Four years after the championship in 1914, the club was renamed as US Perpignan after a merging with Stade Olympien Perpignanais. 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 1924 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.

File:Perpignan rugby catalan flags.jpg

Perpignan's next final appearance came in 1935 against Biarritz at Stade des Ponts Jumeaux in Toulouse on 12 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.

File:Perpignan Rugby.jpg match]]

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,

=Professional era=

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 Union 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, Perpignan 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article4228294.ece |title=Dan Carter joins Perpignan |first=Matthew |last=Pryor |newspaper=The Times |date=28 June 2008 |access-date=28 June 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} 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 they 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

Finals results

=French championship=

bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="4" width="90%" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 100%; border: grey solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

| align=center|Date

| align=center|Winners

| align=center|Score

| align=center|Runners-up

| align=center|Venue

| align=center|Spectators

align=center|12 May 1935

|Biarritz Olympique

|align=center|3–0

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse

|align=center|23,000

align=center|8 May 1938

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|11–6

|Biarritz Olympique

|align=center|Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse

|align=center|24,600

align=center|30 April 1939

|Biarritz Olympique

|align=center|6–0 AP

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse

|align=center|23,000

align=center|26 March 1944

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|20–5

|Aviron Bayonnais

|align=center|Parc des Princes, Paris

|align=center|35,000

align=center|4 May 1952

|FC Lourdes

|align=center|20–11

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Stadium Municipal, Toulouse

|align=center|32,500

align=center|22 May 1955

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|11–6

|FC Lourdes

|align=center|Parc Lescure, Bordeaux

|align=center|39,764

align=center|29 May 1977

|AS Béziers

|align=center|12–4

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Parc des Princes, Paris

|align=center|41,821

align=center|16 May 1998

|Stade Français

|align=center|34–7

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Stade de France, Saint-Denis

|align=center|78,000

align=center|26 June 2004

|Stade Français

|align=center|38–20

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|Stade de France, Saint-Denis

|align=center|79,722

align=center|6 June 2009

|USA Perpignan

|align=center| 22–13

|ASM Clermont

|align=center| Stade de France, Saint-Denis

|align=center| 79,205

align=center|29 May 2010

|ASM Clermont

|align=center| 19–6

| USA Perpignan

|align=center| Stade de France, Saint-Denis

|align=center| 79,262

=Heineken Cup=

bgcolor="#f7f8ff" cellpadding="4" width="90%" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="font-size: 100%; border: grey solid 1px; border-collapse: collapse;"
bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

| align=center|Date

| align=center|Winners

| align=center|Score

| align=center|Runners-up

| align=center|Venue

| align=center|Spectators

align=center|24 May 2003

|File:Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain

|align=center|22–17

|File:Flag of France.svg USA Perpignan

|align=center|Lansdowne Road, Dublin

|align=center|28,600

=Challenge Yves du Manoir=

cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" border="1" style="background:#f7f8ff; width:70%; font-size:100%; border:gray solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse;"
style="background:#ccc;"

| align=center|Date

| align=center|Winners

| align=center|Score

| align=center|Runners-up

align=center|1935

|USA Perpignan

|align=center |3-3, 6–0

|AS Montferrand

align=center|1936

|Aviron Bayonnais

|align=center |9-3

|USA Perpignan

align=center|1937

|Biarritz olympique

|align=center |3-0

|USA Perpignan

align=center|1938

|AS Montferrand

|align=center |23-10

|USA Perpignan

align=center|1955

|USA Perpignan

|align=center|22-11

|SC Mazamet

align=center|1956

|FC Lourdes

|align=center |3-0

|USA Perpignan

align=center|1965

|US Cognac

|align=center |5-3

|USA Perpignan

align=center|1994

|USA Perpignan

|align=center |18-3

|AS Montferrand

Current standings

{{#lst:2024–25 Top 14 season|table}}

Current squad

{{For|player movements before or during the 2024–25 season|List of 2024–25 Top 14 transfers#Perpignan}}

The Perpignan squad for the 2024–25 season is:{{Cite news|url=https://www.usap.fr/teams/6F9C926F-1F21-4509-AAC3-D9B32AAB985E|publisher=USAP.fr|title=Notre équipe|date=2 January 2024|access-date=2 January 2024|language=fr}}{{Cite news|url=https://all.rugby/club/perpignan/squad |publisher=All Rugby |title=Perpignan squad for season 2024/25 |date=2 January 2024|access-date=2 January 2024}}

{{rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=HK | name=Seilala Lam}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=HK | name=Victor Montgaillard}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=HK | name=Ignacio Ruiz}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=PR | name=Giorgi Beria}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=Kieran Brookes}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=PR | name=Pietro Ceccarelli}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=PR | name=Bruce Devaux}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=PR | name=Akato Fakatika}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=PR | name=Nemo Roelofse}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=GEO | pos=PR | name=Giorgi Tetrashvili}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=LK | name=Max Hicks}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Tristan Labouteley}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=Marvin Orie}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Mathieu Tanguy}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Posolo Tuilagi}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Adrin Warion}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Lucas Bachelier}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Alan Brazo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Noe Della Schiava}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=SAM | pos=BR | name=So'otala Fa'aso'o}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Patrick Sobela}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=BR | name=Joaquín Oviedo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=BR | name=Jaco van Tonder}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Lucas Velarte}}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=GEO | pos=SH | name=Gela Aprasidze}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=SH | name=Tom Ecochard}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=SH | name=James Hall}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=FH | name=Tommaso Allan}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FH | name=Antoine Aucagne}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=FH | name=Jake McIntyre}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=CE | name=Jean-Pascal Barraque}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=CE | name=Eneriko Buliruarua}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=CE | name=Alivereti Duguivalu}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ARG | pos=CE | name=Jerónimo de la Fuente}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=CE | name=Apisai Naqalevu}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=Ali Crossdale}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=WG | name=Louis Dupichot}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=WG | name=Jefferson-Lee Joseph}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=WG | name=Tavite Veredamu}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FB | name=Lucas Dubois}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FB | name=Théo Forner}}

{{rugby squad end}}

=Espoirs squad=

{{rugby squad start}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=HK | name=Mathys Lotrian}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ESP | pos=PR | name=Joan Barcenilla D'onghia}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=PR | name=Lorencio Boyer Gallardo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=PR | name=Simone Marcaggi}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Giani Callegari}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=LK | name=Bastien Chinarro}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=Sample Joubert}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ESP | pos=LK | name=Ismael Millan}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=LK | name=Alessandro Ortombina}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=BR | name=Antoine Bouthier}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=GEO | pos=BR | name=Andro Dvali}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=BR | name=Ronald Sharma}}

{{rugby squad mid}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=SH | name=Marc Guillet}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=SH | name=Lenny Viola}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FH | name=Noe Brune}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FH | name=Gabin Kretchmann}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=CE | name=Nicola Bozzo}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=CE | name=Maxim Granell}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=CE | name=Anthony Guirado}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=CE | name=Job Poulet}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FIJ | pos=FB | name=Setareki Toganiyadrava}}

{{rugby squad player | nat=FRA | pos=FB | name=Yoan Vinas}}

{{rugby squad end}}

Notable former players

{{Famous|date=June 2012}}

{{Div col|colwidth=18em}}

{{Div col end}}

See also

Notes

{{Notelist}}

References

{{Reflist}}