Victory 14-6 for AS Béziers at the end of a strange final. Invasion of the field by Béziers supporters a quarter before the end when anything was still possible. Béziers led 10-6. René Hourquet, yes it was him, did not dare stop the match… He could have, he should have. And as for Nice, which was yet promised a great future in French rugby, it has not returned to the final. Semi-final in 1984 (beaten by Agen). Quarter-final in 1985 (beaten by Toulon). Round of 16 in 1986 (eliminated by Montferrand)…
The photo of the Nice team still proudly hangs in our clubhouse at the Arboras stadium… the team line-up: Barthélémy – Vallet, Trautmann, Bony, Méry – Pedeutour, Pierre – E. Buchet, Orso, Ph. Buchet – Catoni, Pelloux – Charpentier, B. Herrero, Félix. The substitutes are not listed. At that time it was not customary. And yet, it is known that 18-year-old Jef Tordo was there. As was the fiery Alain Sudre. In the starting fifteen, seven players trained in Nice: Patrick Barthélémy, Eric and Philippe Buchet, Jean-Charles Orso, Tony Catoni, Roger Charpentier, Didier Félix… not to mention four other pure products of the club, Jean-François Tordo, Christian Panzanvolta, Georges Lauribe, Jean-Claude Baruteu, who were on the bench that night.
The film of the match: a try, although perfectly valid, refused to Alain Vallet… Probably a turning point in this final. The late Pierre Lacans, captain of Béziers, playing with a fractured fibula. The impressive entrance of Jef Tordo. And the field invasion by the Hérault supporters. But it felt like Nice never really let go. This team was truly magnificent. Led by an Eric Buchet at the top and a tremendous Jean-Charles Orso. There was fire in this group of strong men, but that night, it did not ignite.
But it sparked vocations. For example, that of Christophe Moni who started rugby that year before becoming the player we know (yet another international flanker for Nice), four times French champion with Stade Français, then the current coach of Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur who will be traveling to Béziers next Saturday for the 4th day of the French Fédérale 1 championship.
There you have it. Béziers-Nice. Saturday, October 17. Kick-off at 6 p.m., at the Stade de la Méditerranée.
You understand, this match revives many memories for us. No nostalgia. Simply the certainty that anything is always possible. Because even if rugby is still lived somewhat confidentially on the Côte d’Azur, it has a strong history and determined men to bring it back to the highest level. That is our plan.
This is why, for some of our players trained in Nice (Canizares, Guarese, Roman, Malavard, Caminati, Mège…), this match on Saturday will have great significance. We are told Béziers has an unbeatable team this season in Fédérale 1. That’s a challenge that suits us, even if our team will be missing some key players such as Dean Moxam and Stuart MacKie (injured) or the Samoan winger Lomé Fa’Atau, who is struggling with a thigh issue.
On the other hand, note the first start of the experienced prop Grand Hill, who arrived recently, and the anticipated return of Bastien Sainte-Croix in the back row.
The Nice team: Caminati – Roman, Keil, Kacharava, A. Malavard – (fly-half) MacHugh, (scrum-half) Delmonte (capt.) – Sainte-Croix, Herrera, Mezencev – Beattie, Boukanoucha – G. Hill, Feldis, Canizares. Substitutes: Guarese, Traversa, Derrstroff, Delevallée, Chambon, Lapierre or Benstaali, Langlade. Coaches: C. Moni, M. Boutet, and N. Szezur.
