Rugby: Lyon winner of European challenge against Toulon

The Lyonnais prevail 30 to 12, thus winning the first European title in their history.

Le Monde with AFP

Lyon, worn by a Baptiste Couilloud at its best level, won the first European title in its history by upgrading Toulon (30-12), Friday May 27 in Marseille, in the European Challenge final.

The Lou, who was still playing in Pro D2 in 2016 and played his first continental final, prevented the RCT, winner of the “Grande” European Cup three times (2013, 2014, 2015), to win the First French double. The Varoise formation comes again on the last step after losing in the final before Cardiff (28-21) in 2010, Biarritz (21-18) in 2012 and Bristol (31-19) in 2020.

The Gones enrich a prize list until then limited to two titles of champion of France in 1932 and 1933 or coronations in the second division in 1989, 1992, 2011, 2014 and 2016. Lyon is the eighth hexagonal team at Win the challenge, after Bourgoin-Jallieu (1997), Colomiers (1998), Clermont (1999, 2007, 2019), Pau (2000), Biarritz (2012), the Stade Français (2017) and Montpellier (2016, 2021).

Baptiste Couilloud at the maneuver

Once again, playing almost at home did not succeed at the Rade club. As in 2010 in Marseille already, as in 2020 in Aix-en-Provence. And, as two years ago, the Toulonnais missed out on their start: in the Maurice-David stadium, Bristol then took them by the entrance throat, with a test from the first minute. At the Vélodrome, that of Baptiste Couilloud this time was canceled by the video. But the sanction fell for good shortly after when the melee half took advantage of an interception of Jordan Tauufua on a hazardous pass from Sergio Parisse (8 ^{e ).}

He was also involved on the other refused test, that of Davit Niniashvili (40 e +1), showing all his vista by playing a penalty quickly in hand then sending the young Georgian winger in in-goal. Carried away by Couilloud, child of the city and the club, the Lou only made a bite of the RCT, suffocated by the intensity put by the men of Pierre Mignoni.

It must be said that the premature exit of Gabin Villière (31 e ) or the yellow card collected by Aymeric Luc (46 e ) disturbed the protégés of Franck Azéma , as much as their missed tackles or the difficulties of Eben Etzebeth. The temporary exclusions of Léo Berdeu (63 e ) and Charlie Ngatai (73 e ) have changed anything, no more than the late test of Cheslin Kolbe (74 E ). Mignoni has played a hangable tour of his former and future club. He will indeed join the RCT at the offseason. But he can land on the harbor this summer with the feeling of accomplished duty.

“Winning a title, it validates a lot of work. A title is important in building a club. It would be great for the future, it would allow players to become aware of their potential,” said the manager Lyonnais on the eve of the final. “For the club, for the Lyon region, it is important. We would be the first team to win a title. It is important,” he continued. He was heard. Apart from the OL female team and its eight champions leagues, this is the first male title for the capital of Gaul.