France Elite Season 1970-74

In 1970, St Gaudens win the grand final.
(See link at the bottom of the page for more)

This is part of a series that charts the clubs that have played elite Rugby league in France in five year increments. We continue with the early 1970s. The chart has points I have allocated according to where teams finished in the League, Finals and Cup competitions. Any feedback is appreciated in the comments section below.  

To start at the beginning of the series, simply click on the following dates 1960-64. 

1969-70: Lézignan was the top side for this season, narrowly ahead of Villeneuve and XIII Catalan. The league winner was Villeneuve, the grand final St Gaudens and the cup Lézignan,

1970-71: St Gaudens topped the list from St Estève. They won the league, St Estève the grand final Marseille the cup. That cup win must have been an upset for that season.

1971-72: St Estève was comfortably the strongest side on points with Carcassonne the closest to them. Carcassonne could argue it was the best team as they won the league and grand final. However, they failed miserably in the cup, St Estève was the winner of that trophy.

1972-73: Marseille pipped St Gaudens for the most points (in my system). St Estève won the league, Toulouse the grand final and St Gaudens the cup.

1973-74: Lézignan, St Gaudens and St Estève all had a good year. Saints (Estève) took the league title, Saints (Gaudens) the grand final and Albi popped up from nowhere to win the cup. 

Summary: I was surprised to find St Gaudens the top club for the five year period. Lézignan, Villeneuve and St Estève were not far behind in a tight bunch. St Estève emerged to prominence during this time.

Point of interest: Established in 1953 as the Montpellier Diables Rouges (Red Devils), the club was reasonably successful from the late 1950s for some years. It left the chart in 1971-72 and doesn't reappear until briefly some forty years later. It is currently in division two.

For the picture source and article on St Gaudens winning the 'double', simply click here.

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1975-79.