France Elite Season 1975-79

 Toulouse Saint-Estève grand final 1975. Pic André Cros

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 late 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. 

1974-75: Lézignan, Toulouse and St Estève were the top three. Lézignan the league title, Toulouse the  grand final and Pia the cup trophy were how the pinnacle of each competition was divided up. St Estève were solid but without silverware. 

1975-76: Carcassonne and XIII Catalan were above the rest this season, the former taking the league and grand final with the latter the cup. 

1976-77: This was very similar to the previous year for the top two sides. Catalan the league, Carcassonne the cup and Albi popping up to take the grand final. 

1977-78: Catalan and Lézignan this time, Catalan winning the league title and cup and Lézignan the grand final. 

1978-79: Catalan and Carcassonne were the best, Catalan the league and grand final double but Villeneuve came through to claim the cup. 

Summary: Catalan was the best but much ahead of Carcassonne. Lézignan and Toulouse deserve honourable mention. Bordeaux had been a strong club in the 1950s but this is the last time they feature here. This is the highest number of different clubs to appear in any five year period during the series.

Point of interest: During the 1970s, a club appeared briefly on these charts by the name of St Jacques XIII. I know little of them but they hailed from Carcassonne I believe. I guess there was only room for one club in town. Does anyone know more about them?

For the following article in the series, please click the dates 1980-84.