By Arnaud Coudry
Published 2 hours ago, Updated now
USAP players can still dream of qualifying for the final phase, which seemed unexpected at the start of the season. MATTHIEU RONDEL / AFP
DECRYPTION – After years in the shadows, the Catalan club, coached by Franck Azéma, has returned to the forefront. And the fervor of its boiling public.
It’s the surprise of this Top 14 season. Usap (Harlequins Perpignan Sports Union) was promised to fight, again, to avoid relegation to Pro D2. Three days before the end of the regular season, the Catalan club has (almost) validated its continuation and can even dream of playing spoilsport in the race to qualify for the final phase, with its 9th place, only 3 points behind the current 6th and last qualifier, Stade Rochelais.
Fear of relegation dispelled
A flagship club in French rugby in the 2010s (2009 French champion, 2010 finalist), Usap then experienced a big downturn and yo-yoed between the first and second divisions. Far from his past glory which had allowed him to lift the shield of Brennus seven times. Back in the elite in 2021, the Catalan club had finished 13th for the last two seasons, only ensuring its maintenance by winning the accession-relegation play-off against the unfortunate finalist of the Pro D2 (Mont-de-Marsan then Grenoble). Change of gear…
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