Coupe de France Lord Derby
Current season or competition:
Lord Derby Cup 2023–2024
SportRugby league
Instituted1934
Country France (FFR XIII)
HoldersAS Carcassonne (2022–23)
Most titlesAS Carcassonne (16 titles)
WebsiteLord Derby Cup on FFR13.fr
Broadcast partnerviàOccitanie

The Coupe de France Lord Derby (lit. 'Lord Derby French Cup'), or just Coupe Lord Derby ('Lord Derby Cup'), is the premier knockout competition for the sport of rugby league football in France, as well as the name of its championship trophy.[1][2][3] The tournament was first contested in 1934–35, which also marked the inaugural season of the French Rugby League Championship.[3][4]

The Lord Derby Cup is currently open to all professional and amateur clubs.[5] Each round is played in single-elimination mode.[5]

History

Trophy

Following in the footsteps of his father Frederick, patron of ice hockey's Stanley Cup, Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, donated the silver trophy that bears his name to inaugural French Cup champions US Lyon-Villeurbanne in 1935. Stanley was honorary president of the Rugby Football League, a former minister and former British ambassador in Paris.[6] The trophy was actually not presented to the Lyon players during the French Cup final. Rather, it was handed over to them one week later on 12 May 1936 by John Wilson, general secretary of the Rugby Football League, at Stade Buffalo near Paris, during a special game against Challenge Cup champions Castleford, for which Lyon had qualified by virtue of their domestic cup win.[7][8]

The actual name of the trophy, as engraved on the bowl, is Coupe de Lord Derby, although the more natural-sounding "Coupe Lord Derby" is almost always preferred. Among the rugby league crowd, the cup is affectionately known as La vieille dame ('The Old Lady').[9][10] Since 2017, each player from the winning team has received a replica of the cup for him to keep, which is slightly smaller than the original at 30 cm (12 in) in height.[11]

Format

For much of the tournament's history, games played at predetermined or mutually agreed upon neutral sites were the norm. While Toulouse struggled to field a stable team in the new code until 1937, it was still the go-to host city for many games during the tournament's formative years,[12] both because it was viewed as a key market and because the relationship with rugby union authorities was much less contentious there than elsewhere in the country.[13] In fact, Stade Toulousain considered renting its Stade Ernest-Wallon to the French Rugby League for the 1939 Lord Derby Cup final, before organizers settled on Stade du TOEC.[12] In the modern era, games at predetermined sites were gradually reduced to encourage fan attendance, and are typically only used in the last two rounds.[5]

While all divisions have been actively encouraged to send teams in recent times,[5] the level of amateur participation has varied over the years.[9]

Toulouse curse

Toulouse Olympique has endured many heartbreaks in the Lord Derby Cup, losing all of its first six finals, including three straight between 1962 and 1964. One of star player Georges Aillères' career regrets was never hoisting the Lord Derby Cup while playing for his longtime club, despite making it to four finals with them.[14] Ironically, he won the trophy in his only season played away from Toulouse, in 1965 with Lézignan.[15] Toulouse would eventually break the curse in 2014, in their seventh final appearance.[10][16]

Cinderella runs

The Lord Derby Cup has historically been dominated by first division teams. Nonetheless, one-off wins by lower division clubs are not unheard of, and a handful of underdogs have produced cinderella runs over the years. In 1983, fourth-level side Le Soler advanced to the semifinals, beating top-flight club Pia in the process, before losing to powerhouse XIII Catalan.[17] In 2005, third-level team Salses beat two Elite 1 teams (Lyon-Villeurbanne and Villeneuve-sur-Lot) before bowing out in the semifinals as well, this time to Limoux.[17]

Satellite tournaments

Junior French Cup

The equivalent of the Lord Derby Cup for Under-19 players is the Coupe Luc-Nitard ('Luc Nitard Cup'), whose final has traditionally been played as a curtain-raiser to the Lord Derby Cup final.[5]

Other cup competitions

To provide minor league clubs with a more accessible level of competition, the French federation has maintained a trio of secondary cup tournaments which are reserved for them. Each of these tournaments is marketed as a "Coupe de France" in its own right, although in practice they more closely fit the definition of a league cup.[5] They are:

List of Finals

Results

YearWinnersScoreRunner-upVenueAttendance
1934–35 Lyon22–7 XIII CatalanStade Jacques-Thomas, Toulouse6,000
1935–36 Côte Basque15–8 VilleneuveParc de Suzon, Talence12,600
1936–37 Villeneuve12–6 XIII Catalan12,100
1937–38 Roanne36–12 VilleneuveStade des Minimes, Toulouse11,000
1938–39 XIII Catalan7–3 ToulouseStade du TOEC, Toulouse15,200
1939–40: Final did not take place due to the Second World War1
1940–44: Rugby league banned by Vichy regime
1944–45 XIII Catalan23–14 CarcassonneParc des Princes, Paris
1945–46 Carcassonne27–7 XIII CatalanStade Jacques-Chapou, Toulouse18,000
1946–47 Carcassonne24–5 AvignonStade Vélodrome, Marseille
1947–48 Marseille5–4 CarcassonneStade Jacques-Chapou, Toulouse
1948–49 Marseille12–9 CarcassonneStade Vélodrome, Marseille24,000
1949–50 XIII Catalan12–5 LyonStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne13,500
1950–51 Carcassonne22–10 LyonStade Vélodrome, Marseille
1951–52 Carcassonne28–9 XIII Catalan14,384
1952–53 Lyon9–8 VilleneuveStade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan12,200
1953–54 Lyon17–15 XIII CatalanStade Joseph-Lombard, Cavaillon8,000
1954–55 Avignon18–10 MarseilleStade de la Roseraie, Carpentras11,600
1955–56 Avignon25–12 BordeauxStade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan5,800
1956–57 Marseille11–0 XIII CatalanStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne16,633
1957–58 Villeneuve20–8 AvignonStade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan5,473
1958–59 XIII Catalan7–0 AvignonStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne11,000
1959–60 Lézignan7–4 CarcassonneStade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan15,800
1960–61 Carcassonne5–2 LézignanStade Jean-Laffon, Perpignan
1961–62 Roanne16–10 ToulouseStade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan8,395
1962–63 Carcassonne5–0 Toulouse5,100
1963–64 Villeneuve10–2 Toulouse5,166
1964–65 Marseille13–8 Carcassonne8,294
1965–66 Lézignan22–7 VilleneuveStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne10,067
1966–67 Carcassonne10–4 XIII CatalanStade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan16,250
1967–68 Carcassonne9–2 Toulouse6,400
1968–69 XIII Catalan15–8 Villeneuve9,532
1969–70 Lézignan14–8 Villeneuve7,460
1970–71 Marseille17–2 Lézignan6,310
1971–72 Saint-Estève12–5 Villeneuve8,250
1972–73 Saint-Gaudens22–8 CarcassonneStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne10,300
1973–74 Albi21–11 LézignanStade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan6,580
1974–75 Pia9–4 Marseille9,021
1975–76 XIII Catalan23–8 Toulouse6,395
1976–77 Carcassonne21–16 XIII CatalanParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne10,085
1977–78 XIII Catalan18–7 Lézignan15,939
1978–79 Villeneuve15–5 CarcassonneStadium Municipal, Albi6,642
1979–80 XIII Catalan18–8 CarcassonneParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne8,783
1980-81: Final cancelled2
1981–82 Avignon18–12 CarcassonneParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne4,663
1982–83 Carcassonne10–3 XIII Catalan7,235
1983–84 Villeneuve18–7 Limoux6,851
1984–85 XIII Catalan24–7 Limoux11,362
1985–86 Le Pontet35–10 Saint-Estève
1986–87 Saint-Estève20–10 XIII Catalan8590
1987–88 Le Pontet5–2 Saint-Estève5,000
1988–89 Avignon12–11 Saint-EstèveStadium Municipal, Albi6,000
1989–90 Carcassonne22–8 Saint-Estève6,832
1990–91 Saint-Gaudens30–4 PiaStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne6,000
1991–92 Saint-Gaudens22–10 RC CarpentrasParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne7,000
1992–93 Saint-Estève12–10 XIII Catalan6,401
1993–94 Saint-Estève14–12 XIII CatalanStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne
1994–95 Saint-Estève28–8 PiaStade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan6,000
1995–96 Limoux39–12 Carcassonne9,000
1996–97 XIII Catalan25–24 LimouxStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne8,000
1997–98 Saint-Estève38–0 Avignon7,000
1998–99 Villeneuve20–5 LézignanParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne9,000
1999-00 Villeneuve34–14 XIII Catalan9,000
2000–01 Union Treiziste Catalane38–17 Limoux8,000
2001–02 Villeneuve27–18 PiaStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne8,500
2002–03 Villeneuve16–14 Pia7,000
2003–04 Union Treiziste Catalane36–24 Carcassonne10,500
2004–05 Union Treiziste Catalane31–12 Limoux11,000
2005–06 Pia36–20 Lézignan9,344
2006–07 Pia30–14 Carcassonne5,500
2007–08 Limoux17–14 Albi9,000
2008–09 Carcassonne18–16 LimouxStadium Municipal, Albi6,600
2009–10 Lézignan18–14 LimouxParc des Sports, Avignon6,000
2010–11 Lézignan27–18 PiaStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne5,350
2011–12 Carcassonne14–12 PiaParc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Narbonne6,892
2012–13 Avignon38–37 LimouxStade Albert-Domec, Carcassonne5,000
2013–14 Toulouse46–10 Carcassonne6,763
2014–15 Lézignan27–25 Saint-Estève XIII Catalan4,124
2015–16 Saint-Estève XIII Catalan33–16 Limoux4,200
2016–17 Carcassonne30–24 LézignanParc des Sports, Avignon5,500
2017–18 Saint-Estève XIII Catalan30–26 AET LimouxStade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan5,243
2018–19 Carcassonne22–6 Saint-Estève XIII Catalan5,000[19]
2019–20 Competition abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France[20]
2020–21 Competition cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France[21]
2021–22 Competition abandoned due to a resurgence of COVID-19 induced by the Omicron variant[22]
2022–23 Carcassonne36–12 Albi Stade Gilbert-Brutus, Perpignan 4,102[23]
1964 Final
AS Carcassonne win in 2009

Footnotes

  1. Both semifinals were scheduled for 5 May 1940. Côte Basque beat XIII Catalan 14–5 in Bordeaux for the first final spot,[24] but prior commitments at Toulouse's Stade des Minimes forced the postponement of the second semifinal between Pau and Carcassonne to 12 May.[13] On 10 May, German troops invaded Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, forcing the cancellation of the remainder of the competition, whose final was scheduled for 19 May 1940 in Bordeaux.[25]
  2. The final between AS Carcassonne and XIII Catalan was cancelled as a result of a game-ending brawl involving XIII Catalan at the championship final the previous week.[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Revello, Alain (14 January 2012). "FCL XIII : 1/8e de Coupe Lord Derby et Nitard au menu". midilibre.fr. Société du Journal Midi Libre. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Jacquemart, Nicolas (15 December 2018). "Florent Lazaro : 'La Coupe de France c'est mythique'". treizemondial.fr. Dicodusport. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Coupe de France : l'autre convoitise". midi-olympique.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Palmarès Coupe de France Lord Derby". treizemondial.fr. Dicodusport. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tirage au sort pour le prochain tour de la Coupe de France Lord Derby, la Coupe de France U19, la Coupe Division Nationale et la Coupe Division Fédérale". ffr13.fr. Fédération Française de rugby à XIII. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  6. ↑ "Vous avez dit Lord Derby ?". broncos-palau13.com. Racing Club Palauenc Palau XIII. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  7. ↑ De Lascoumettes, Jean (14 May 1935). "Castleford bat Lyon-Villeurbanne en rugby-treize". Match (in French). No. 457. Paris. p. 15.
  8. ↑ Bardet, O. (13 May 1935). "Castleford a éprouvé une peine infinie à vaincre l'US Lyon-Villeurbanne". L'Auto. Paris. p. 4. Carrying the magnificent silver cup gifted by Lord Derby to the French Cup winners [...]
  9. 1 2 "Coupe Lord Derby : Le 1er Tour débute ce week-end". ffr13.fr. Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Carcassonne. 'Cuits ! cuits ! cuits !'". ladepeche.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Coupe de France Lord Derby, les trophées". ffr13.fr. Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  12. 1 2 Dayroze, Franck (28 March 2020). "La difficile naissance du rugby à XIII à Toulouse". surlatouche.fr. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  13. 1 2 Grosmolard, Pierre (2 May 1940). "Une demi-finale de la Coupe de France des treize reportée". L'Auto. Paris. p. 1.
  14. ↑ Jamet, Michel (10 April 2014). "Toulouse. Georges Aillères : 'Ce TO a tout'". ladepeche.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  15. ↑ Navarre, Didier (6 January 2016). "Aillères : 'Heureusement que je l'ai gagnée avec Lézignan'". midi-olympique.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  16. ↑ Jamet, Michel (14 April 2014). "Pour la première fois Dame Coupe sourit à Toulouse". ladepeche.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Coupe Lord Derby : entre rêve et réalité". ffr13.fr. Fédération Française de rugby à XIII. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  18. ↑ Navarre, Didier (21 June 2016). "Le Challenge Georges-Aillères ou la Coupe de France de l'élite 2". midi-olympique.fr. Groupe La Dépêche du Midi. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  19. ↑ "Carcassonne a fait bloc". ffr13.fr (in French). 9 June 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Coronavirus : la Fédération française met fin aux compétitions de rugby à XIII cette saison". lequipe.fr. Groupe Amaury. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  21. ↑ Jacquemart, Nicolas (17 August 2021). "Le programme complet de la Coupe de France Lord Derby 2021-2022". treizemondial.fr. Dicodusport. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  22. ↑ Q.G. (8 January 2022). "Rugby à XIII : la coupe de France Lord-Derby annulée pour cette saison". laprovence.com. Groupe La Provence. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  23. ↑ Frejebise, Michel (22 April 2023). "Rugby à XIII – Finale de Coupe Lord Derby : l'histoire attendra pour Albi Rugby League, battu par Carcassonne (12–36)". La Dépêche (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Labarthe, Léon (6 May 1940). "Demi-finale à Bordeaux". L'Auto. Paris. p. 1. [...] the French Cup semifinal which pitted, yesterday in Bordeaux, the Côte Basque squad to the one from the Catalans.
  25. ↑ Labarthe, Léon (11 May 1940). "Pau doit être finaliste en Coupe comme en Championnat". L'Auto. Paris. pp. 1–2.
  26. ↑ "René Mauriès s'éteint à l'âge de 80 ans". rds.ca. Bell Globemedia. 31 December 2000. Retrieved 22 April 2021.

Bibliography

  • Bonnery, Louis (1996). Le rugby à XIII le plus français du monde. Limoux: Cano & Franck.
  • Rylance, Mike (1999). The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League. Brighouse: League Publications. ISBN 978-1901347050.
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