Superstition in Perpignan: Usap has its new pitch baptized by the Bishop of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Monsignor Scherrer

Ce vendredi, le président de l’Usap François Rivière (micro en main), aux côtés du maire de Perpignan Louis Aliot (RN), a inauguré officiellement la nouvelle pelouse du stade ; MAXPPP – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

Les Catalans ont mis toutes les chances de leur côté pour affronter Clermont ce samedi après-midi.

USA Perpignan celebrated its big return to Aimé-Giral this Saturday, four months after its last meeting. And for good reason: it inaugurated its new hybrid pitch, under construction since last June, and which will have cost two million euros, according to France Bleu Roussillon. This is the reason why the blood and gold club was forced to relocate its first home match against Montpellier to Béziers (defeated 7-26).

The pitch had not been changed since 1939

But this afternoon against Clermont, in a windswept and sun-drenched “Cathedral”, the Catalans, doubtless overcome by a touch of superstition, decided to have their pitch baptized at 13:00 by the Bishop of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Monsignor Scherrer. A unique initiative that brought luck to Perpignan at half-time (18-3).

“But as we are in a republican place, all religious ceremonies were invited“, testified the president of Usap, François Rivière, the day before with our colleagues on the radio. For your information, the old Aimé-Giral pitch, in a terrible state in recent seasons, had not been changed since 1939. It was officially inaugurated this Friday by the president of Usap François Rivière, alongside the mayor of Perpignan Louis Aliot (RN).

Serious injury for Tuilagi ? 

At the same time, Perpignan's international second row, Posolo Tuilagi, went off injured. The 20-year-old giant remained on the ground for a long time after being tackled in the 17th minute by Clermont hooker Barnabé Massa. Visibly injured in the left leg, he was taken off the field on a stretcher, a thumbs up to the Aimé-Giral crowd, and replaced by former Toulon player Adrien Warion. A fracture of the tibia-fibula is suspected.