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 2000s. 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.
1999-00: Villeneuve and St Estève were the best performing sides, Toulouse not far behind. Villeneuve took out the League and cup, and Toulouse the grand final. St Estève Catalan won nothing but was competitive in all three areas.
2000-01: St Estève joined forces with XIII Catalan to become one club. Both clubs were based in Perpignan and the hope was eventually to join the UK Super League. The union was named Union Treiziste Catalane or UTC for short but I will stick with St Estève-Catalan.
The same three were at it again, except Villeneuve won the league and grand final and St Estève-Catalan the Cup. It was Toulouse this time without silverware. Avignon went into liquidation and was demoted.
2001-02: Despite two top sides amalgamating, Villeneuve was the top club, second in the league, and winning both the grand final and cup. St Estève-Catalan won the league.
2002-03: The Perpignan based Saint-Cyprien XIII also joined the St Estève-Catalan (UTC) club from the second division in France. Villeneuve took the treble in a dominating performance.
2003-04: St Estève-Catalan took the league and cup, with Saint Gaudens the grand final. Financial troubles were to come to a head for Villeneuve which fell away badly from earlier seasons.
Summary: The St Estève-Catalan club was the strongest by a whisker from Villeneuve which but for the last season was the best.
Point of interest: The SM Pia XIII was moving up the ranks with some solid performances. The club's first team is shown in the Elite 1 above, while it also had a reserve team under the name of the Baroudeurs de Pia in a lower division.
For the following article in the series, please click the dates 2005-09.
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