To start this new year well, Hélène, you have chosen to give us the title of champion of France, that of 1921… it is true that it makes you want!
Lucky days! This end of the 1920/21 season is even a real apotheosis for Catalan rugby. Captain Fernand Vaquer’s USAP secured their place in the championship final by beating Racing Club de France 5-0 thanks to an unstoppable combination, almost always winning at the time: a Roger-René, hear a cross between Roger Ramis and René Salinié who sent Georges Constant flat between the posts to the third row that day.
An essay transformed by Joseph Marmayou known as “Taï”. The Parisians force but fail on the rear Etienne Cayrol, imperial. The Catalans have their ticket to the Sauclières stadium in Béziers, they don’t give up!
A final in the Hérault, a stone’s throw away, is a boon for the people of Perpignan!
At first glance yes, but no! There is a heavy liability between the two cities, with Narbonne elsewhere as well.
Playing Béziers isn’t really playing at home when you’re from Perpignan. We are rather in hostile terrain! But on this Sunday, April 17, 1921, they have the advantage of numbers, and not only in the stands where the fans make the hay of the devil, even on the pitch. In fact, there are 17 Catalans on the lawn, the 15 from the USP obviously but also two other opposites, in the ranks of the Stade Toulousain: the pillar Pierre Pons from Llupia and Léon Nougal from Perpignan.
Nice poster though!
The comparison promises to be huge! The best group in France, 6 of Toulouse’s 8 forwards are international, against the best forward line, the fastest, the most impactful: Ramis – Salinié – Dutrey – Got.
At half-time the two teams were still 0-0 up. It was then that Perpignan pulled the boot from Nevers, the famous Roger-René! As in the parade, Ramis overflows. He gets in touch. Quick throw-in and 3rd row Fernand Duron said ‘the Salanque boar’ flattens out in the in-goal!
As against Racing, Marmayou converts: 5 to 0. The Scudetto won just before the Great War is again Catalan. And he also has a little brother! Because 15 days earlier, the USP II squad became French reserve champions by beating their counterpart Racing 21 to 0.
As they say at home: box full!
And even more for the pillar Joseph Martorell: champion with the reserve, he replaces Constant, injured, in the first team for the grand final and therefore postpones two titles of champion of France in two weeks. A unique feat!
