Fate does not want to separate the Racing Club Narbonnais and the US Carcassonne for the second consecutive season. Like last year, the national semi-finals will be marked by a terrible Aude derby. This Saturday, May 10 (7 p.m.), at the Sports Park, the Orange and Black and the Yellow and Black will be a seventh time in less than a year and a half.
In the Aude, the expression “Never two without three” could be revisited each year. Because the poster of the semi-finals between the Racing Club Narbonnais and the US Carcassonne is in no chance. It is only the work of fate. From history that does not want to separate the two Audois clubs in this national championship. How could it be otherwise in this 2024-2025 season? Like last year, everything was done so that the two teams meet iron again at this same stage of the competition. To compete in a place in the final.
A 100-minute semi-final last year
Remember last season. First there was this complaint from the Carcassonnais for a “technical fault” of the Narbonnais however victorious in Domec (21-23), on December 1, 2023. Fate was already responsible for leading this derby from Aude to three regular phase confrontations, after the decision of the French Rugby Federation to have this meeting replayed. The return match was therefore played before this famous first first leg. “Act one, Racing advantage”we titled in the independent for the victory of Racing at the end of an unexpected end of the match (14-10), on April 6, 2024. Six days later, the two teams gave the cover. This time, “The USC takes out the muscles”at the end of a breathless meeting (27-20).
Except that this classic’aude was going to be embarked in a fourth round in just five months. Carcassonne managed to qualify for a home dam at the end of the regular phase and an epic outcome, when Narbonne was going directly to the semi-finals thanks to an in-extremis successful success on the lawn of Suresnes and a double of this devil of Baptiste Abescat (16-27). In the same part of the table in final stages, it was still up to the USC to pass the Chambéry obstacle to the dam. The men of the duo Jean-Marc in theé-Éric Escribano were not going to tremble and win logically (19-10). The story therefore led Narbonnais and Carcassonnais towards a semi-final between enemy brothers. May 10, 2024. In an infernal atmosphere, an arrival of the players from the two irrespirable teams, a sports and friendship park filled with 9,072 spectators.
And then, this semi-final was not just going to last 80 minutes. But 100. Because at the final whistle of regulation time, the bill was tied, 20 to 20. After only three minutes in extra time, the opening half replacing Tom Chauvet succeeded in a complicated penalty in a closed angle, near the key on the right. 23 to 20, 17 minutes to play. This penalty of the young player of the Racing Club Narbonnais was that of the victory for his team. “In Racing the glory and the final”we then had a title.
What time this time?
The defeat in the final against Nice (39-30), that of the access-match against Montauban (19-20) promised again a season in the same division for the two Aude training courses. “This is the first thing we looked at on the calendar”told the two camps when discovering the dates of the two derbies of the regular phase. This time version 2024-2025.
As if by chance, the two games of the regular phase, this season, were played almost on the same date as those of last year. November 29, 2024 in Domec. And April 12 at the Sports Parc. But once is not customary, the two clashes will be of a high intense. First in the city, in a breathtaking meeting, shoulder to shoulder 80 minutes, without ever that one team distances the other. But at the end of the end, as during the semi-final, the epilogue will be at the end of the left foot of Tom Chauvet (15-18). Narbonne therefore takes the first round of the season, in Carcassonnaise land. Revanchards, the yellow and black will take revenge at the best of moments in their season (13-17). It is the turn of the season in history between the two clubs.
Carcassonne puts himself in a position of strength to obtain his dam at home, Narbonne must validate his ticket for the last square. And we give it to you in a thousand, they are still in the same table. Racing was waiting for the USC in the semi-finals. The will of the whole department has been carried out. “It was written”launched a big smile on his lips, Romain Manchia at the end of the victory of the yellow and black against Albi in the dam on Saturday evening (18-0). After May 11, 2024, here was the time of May 11, 2025.
It will again be a derby for a place in the final. And the party will be a seventh time (!) Completely crazy.
