Page 62 - Rugby League World (February 2020)
P. 62
WORDS: PIERRE CARCAU
The latest developments across La Manche from our French correspondent, including the
whereabouts of a phantom Wigan coach.
LORD DERBY
STANDS ALONE
STEP BY STEP
T HE COUPE DE FRANCE “Lord Derby” kicked in which teams are divided into two pools, the
off in November 2019. It’s now the only rugby
The first phase of the Women’s championship
competition on French soil of its kind: union
best of them joining Élite 1 and the others the
had the equivalent but stopped it because
the Ligue de Rugby (be careful of this French
second tier, has been completed. Therefore, the
vocabulary’s “false friend”, it is a commercial
company created by the most powerful union clubs), Élite 1 teams are :Toulouse Ovalie (last season’s
champions), the Déesses Catalanes (the vice-
decided to do so since in their view it interfered with champions, Perpignan), the Minotaures de Lescure,
more profitable competitions. XIII Provençal (Caumont, Greater Avignon), Vaulx-
Ignoring Ligue de Rugby would be a mistake. I en-Vélin (Greater Lyon) and Girondins de Bordeaux.
may write again about this ‘State within the State’ The second tier’s teams are: Montpellier (Nationale
because these confirmed businessmen could interfere Champions) Pia, Limoux, Réalmont, Clairac (east of
indirectly with League’s expansion. Tonneins) and Ayguevives (South east of Toulouse).
With the Élite 1 and Élite 2 clubs entering a 32-club Élite 1 began in January, with, notably, Désses
round at the beginning of January, the Coupe de France Catalanes beating Toulouse away 20-8 and Girondins
entered into a decisive phase with four Fédérale’s de Bordeaux defeating XIII Provençal 54-4.
(4th tier) survivors, but they were all knocked out of The French women’s championship has been
the cup at this stage. There were not many surprises built step by step; at the beginning women didn’t
except the victory of Réalmont (3rd tier) over Élite 2 even tackle and played touch rugby. The goal was
club Carpentras (16-12). Last year’s finalists made to attract more and more women to the game.
it through to the last 16; Toulouse reserves were no Gradually, it has been getting closer and closer to
match for Carcassonne (6-60) and Saint-Etève-XIII the game played by the men. But, recruiting enough
Catalan won the Catalan derby against Pia (26-50) but players is still a problem. If a team was not able to
only after being dominated in the first half. With their present at least 13 players on the field, a match of
close victory over Villeneuve-sur-Lot (24-16), Limoux Nines was played instead. Now that’s over, and it’s a
(pictured), still leaders of the Élite 1 championship, forfeit instead, which will put more pressure on the
seem the most likely candidate to prevent both clubs to have strong and regular sides, but this can
Carcassonne and Catalans from playing another final only benefit the general level of the game in France
this season. with the world cup next year.
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