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.

USA Perpignan
Full nameUnion sportive arlequins Perpignan-Roussillon
Founded1902; 122 years ago (1902) (as AS Perpignan)
1919; 105 years ago (1919) (as US Perpignan)
1933; 91 years ago (1933) (as USA Perpignan)
LocationPerpignan, France
Ground(s)Stade Aimé Giral (Capacity: 14,593)
PresidentFrançois Rivière
Coach(es)Franck Azéma
Captain(s)Mathieu Acebes
League(s)Top 14
2023–2410th
Team kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.usap.fr

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.[1]

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.[2] 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

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Early years

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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[3] 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.

 
Perpignan fans at a home game

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.

 
USA Perpignan during a Heineken Cup 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

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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.[4] 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

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Finals results

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French championship

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
12 May 1935 Biarritz Olympique 3–0 USA Perpignan Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 23,000
8 May 1938 USA Perpignan 11–6 Biarritz Olympique Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 24,600
30 April 1939 Biarritz Olympique 6–0 AP USA Perpignan Stade des Ponts Jumeaux, Toulouse 23,000
26 March 1944 USA Perpignan 20–5 Aviron Bayonnais Parc des Princes, Paris 35,000
4 May 1952 FC Lourdes 20–11 USA Perpignan Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 32,500
22 May 1955 USA Perpignan 11–6 FC Lourdes Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 39,764
29 May 1977 AS Béziers 12–4 USA Perpignan Parc des Princes, Paris 41,821
16 May 1998 Stade Français 34–7 USA Perpignan Stade de France, Saint-Denis 78,000
26 June 2004 Stade Français 38–20 USA Perpignan Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,722
6 June 2009 USA Perpignan 22–13 ASM Clermont Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,205
29 May 2010 ASM Clermont 19–6 USA Perpignan Stade de France, Saint-Denis 79,262

Heineken Cup

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Date Winners Score Runners-up Venue Spectators
24 May 2003   Stade Toulousain 22–17   USA Perpignan Lansdowne Road, Dublin 28,600

Challenge Yves du Manoir

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Date Winners Score Runners-up
1935 USA Perpignan 3-3, 6-0 AS Montferrand
1936 Aviron Bayonnais 9-3 USA Perpignan
1937 Biarritz olympique 3-0 USA Perpignan
1938 AS Montferrand 23-10 USA Perpignan
1955 USA Perpignan 22-11 SC Mazamet
1956 FC Lourdes 3-0 USA Perpignan
1965 US Cognac 5-3 USA Perpignan
1994 USA Perpignan 18-3 AS Montferrand

Current standings

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2024–25 Top 14 Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Bordeaux Bègles 4 3 0 1 140 100 +40 19 14 1 1 14 Playoffs and Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup
2 Toulouse 4 3 0 1 110 72 +38 13 8 1 1 14
3 Toulon 4 3 0 1 113 76 +37 14 12 1 1 14
4 La Rochelle 4 3 0 1 112 91 +21 15 10 1 0 13
5 Lyon 4 3 0 1 114 116 −2 10 14 0 0 12
6 Castres 4 2 0 2 124 110 +14 13 11 1 2 11
7 Clermont 4 2 0 2 88 83 +5 11 10 2 0 10 Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup
8 Pau 4 2 0 2 113 133 −20 15 18 2 0 10
9 Bayonne 4 2 0 2 88 123 −35 10 15 0 0 8 Qualification for 2025–26 European Rugby Challenge Cup
10 Montpellier 4 1 0 3 86 81 +5 9 8 0 2 6
11 Racing 92 4 1 0 3 111 120 −9 14 14 0 2 6
12 Perpignan 4 1 0 3 71 77 −6 6 7 1 1 6
13 Stade Français 4 1 0 3 86 121 −35 11 16 0 1 5 Qualification for Relegation play-off
14 Vannes 4 1 0 3 98 151 −53 12 19 0 1 5 Relegation to Pro D2
Updated to match(es) played on 29 September 2024. Source: Top 14


Current squad

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The Perpignan squad for the 2023–24 season is:[5] [6]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Seilala Lam Hooker   Samoa
Victor Montgaillard Hooker   France
Ignacio Ruiz Hooker   Argentina
Lucas Velarte Hooker   France
Giorgi Beria Prop   France
Kieran Brookes Prop   England
Pietro Ceccarelli Prop   Italy
Bruce Devaux Prop   France
Akato Fakatika Prop   France
Vakhtang Jintcharadze Prop   Georgia
Nemo Roelofse Prop   South Africa
Giorgi Tetrashvili Prop   Georgia
Tristan Labouteley Lock   France
Marvin Orie Lock   South Africa
Mathieu Tanguy Lock   France
Posolo Tuilagi Lock   France
Adrien Warion Lock   France
Lucas Bachelier Back row   France
Alan Brazo Back row   France
Noé Della Schiava Back row   France
So'otala Fa'aso'o Back row   Samoa
Joaquín Oviedo Back row   Argentina
Patrick Sobéla Back row   France
Jaco van Tonder Back row   South Africa
Player Position Union
Gela Aprasidze Scrum-half   Georgia
Sadek Deghmache Scrum-half   France
Tom Ecochard Scrum-half   France
Tommaso Allan Fly-half   Italy
Antoine Aucagne Fly-half   France
Jake McIntyre Fly-half   Australia
Jean-Pascal Barraque Centre   France
Riko Buliruarua Centre   Fiji
Alivereti Duguivalu Centre   Fiji
Jerónimo de la Fuente Centre   Argentina
Apisai Naqalevu Centre   Fiji
Ali Crossdale Wing   England
Louis Dupichot Wing   France
Tavite Veredamu Wing   France
Lucas Dubois Fullback   France
Théo Forner Fullback   France

Espoirs squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Mathys Lotrian Hooker   France
Merab Macharashvili Hooker   Georgia
Christophe Marchand Prop   France
Simone Marcaggi Prop   Italy
Bastien Chinarro Lock   France
Samuel M'Foudi Lock   France
Guillaume Marin Lock   France
Alessandro Ortombina Lock   Italy
Antoine Bouthier Back row   France
Ronald Sharma Back row   Fiji
Player Position Union
Leon Momicchioli Scrum-half   Italy
Lenny Viola Scrum-half   France
Nicola Bozzo Centre   Italy
Job Poulet Centre   France
Keanu Desrues Wing   France
Setareki Toganiyadrava Fullback   Fiji
Yoan Vinas Fullback   France

Notable former players

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See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Historique et Palmarès du Club de Rugby USAP". USAPassociation.com (in French). Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. ^ Perrin, Thibault (1 September 2018). "De retour en Top 14, l'USAP pourrait faire une infidélité à Aimé-Giral". Le Rugbynistère (in French). Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  3. ^ "USAP and Stade Aimé Giral". www.anglophone-direct.com. 2 May 2014.
  4. ^ Pryor, Matthew (28 June 2008). "Dan Carter joins Perpignan". The Times. Retrieved 28 June 2008.[dead link]
  5. ^ "Notre équipe" (in French). USAP.fr. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Perpignan squad for season 2023/2024". All Rugby. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
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