Bouclier de Brennus

The Bouclier de Brennus (French pronunciation: [buklie də bʁenys]), or Brennus Shield in English, is a trophy awarded annually to the French rugby union club that wins the domestic league.

Bouclier de Brennus
Awarded forWinning the Top 14
CountryFrance
Presented byLNR
History
First award1892
Most winsToulouse (22)
Most recentToulouse (22nd)

The shield was not named, as it is often believed, after the famous Gallic warrior Brennus but rather artist Charles Brennus, co-founder of the Union des sociétés françaises de sports athlétiques (USFSA), the original governing body of rugby union in France. Charles Brennus sculpted the shield himself in 1892, based on an original design from his friend and fellow USFSA co-founder Pierre de Coubertin, the man who founded the modern Olympic Games.

Standing 1 metre (3.3 ft) high, 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) wide and weighing around 20 kilograms (44 lb), the trophy consists of a brass shield and plaque both fixed on a wooden support made of ash. An integral part of French sporting folklore, the Brennus Shield is one of the most recognisable trophies in France.

History

The Bouclier de Brennus was the brainchild of baron Pierre de Coubertin, the later founder of the modern Olympic Games, who recognised the need for a trophy to be awarded to the first winner of the rugby union domestic league set up by the Union des sociétés françaises de sports athlétiques (USFSA), which was, at the time, the organisation in charge of all amateur sporting competitions in France.[1]

As president of USFSA, Coubertin went to his good friend Charles Brennus, himself member and co-founder of USFSA and professional engraver, to have a trophy made for the first final in French rugby history scheduled for 20 March 1892.[1] The creation was then named after the medallist and sculptor and does not refer to the famous Gallic warrior Brennus.[2]

Standing 1 metre (3.3 ft) high, 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) wide, 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) thick and weighing around 20 kilograms (44 lb), the trophy consists of a brass shield which includes the arms of USFSA as well as the moto "Ludus Pro Patria" (Latin for "Games for Motherland"), a plaque which would receive the names of the clubs winning the trophy and finally a wooden support made from ash.[3][4][2]

Because Charles Brennus was also the president of Parisian club SCUF it was decided that this club would be the legal custodian of the trophy. Up until today tradition dictates that during the award ceremony that immediately follows the final of the French league, the trophy should be given to the winning team by 2 young players of Parisian club Sporting Club Universitaire de France (SCUF). Although they are the legal custodian of the trophy, SCUF have never won it. The closest the club came was in 1911 and 1913 when it lost the final on both occasions.[2]

Today

Like other sporting trophies, the Bouclier de Brennus had a very eventful life and by the end of the 20th century was in battered condition. A century of celebrations and resulting mistreatment, including the shield being used as a tray, skateboard or surfboard on several occasions, had taken its toll. Players and rugby union supporters nicknamed it "Le Bout de bois" (French for "The Piece of Wood").[5] The original trophy had to be used one last time in 2004 when it was discovered that one of Perpignan's titles was missing from the replica. It was therefore decided that the shield would be restored and kept in a safe place; a replica was made and awarded in lieu since 2004.[6]

The inaugural winner of the trophy was Racing Club de France in 1892. Up until 1898 only clubs from Paris could participate in the league; this changed in 1899 when Stade Bordelais (Bordeaux) won the title and became the first club outside of Paris to win the shield. As of today, a total of 28 clubs have had the honour to see their name engraved on the hallowed trophy. Montpellier were the most recent first-time champions, having won their first title in 2022. The most recent champions are Toulouse in 2023, and they have the record of winning titles with twenty-two victories.

Winners

Wins by clubs

The following clubs have won the title:[7]

Bold indicates clubs playing in 2023–24 Top 14 season.

Rank Club Wins Runners-up Finals Winning Seasons
1Toulouse227291912,1922,1923,1924,1926,1927,1947,1985,1986,1989,1994,1995,1996,1997,1999,2001,2008,2011,2012,2019,2021,2023
2SF Paris149231893,1894,1895,1897,1898,1901,1903,1908,1998,2000,2003,2004,2007,2015
3Béziers114151961,1971,1972,1974,1975,1977,1978,1980,1981,1983,1984
4Agen86141930,1945,1962,1965,1966,1976,1982,1988
5Lourdes83111948,1952,1953,1956,1957,1958,1960,1968
6Perpignan79161914,1921,1925,1938,1944,1955,2009
7Bordeaux75121899,1904,1905,1906,1907,1909,1911
8RC Paris67131892,1900,1902,1959,1990,2016
9Biarritz5381935,1939,2002,2005,2006
10Castres5381949,1950,1993,2013,2018
11Toulon49131931,1987,1992,2014
12Bayonne3471913,1934,1943
13Pau3041928,1946,1964
14Clermont212142010,2017
15Tarbes2351920,1973
16Narbonne2351936,1979
17Lyon OU2131932,1933
18Bègles2131969,1991
19Mont-de-Marsan1341963
20Ol. Paris1231896
21Quillan1231929
22Montpellier1232022
23Grenoble1121954
24FC Lyon1011910
25Vienne1011937
26Carmaux1011951
27Montauban1011967
28La Voulte1011970 (as La Voulte Sportif)

Winners by season
ASM players parade in the streets of Clermont-Ferrand to celebrate their title, 30 May 2010

See also

References
  1. Lacouture, Jean (2008). La légende du Brennus (in French). Boulogne-Billancourt: Prolongations. p. 139. ISBN 978-2916400419.
  2. Brossard, Maxime (31 May 2017). "Finale Top 14 - Le bouclier de Brennus, histoire et anecdotes d'un trophée légendaire". Rugbyrama (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. Arigasci, Jean-Pascal (3 June 2017). "Rugby. Top 14 : le Bouclier de Brennus, ce robuste objet du désir". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  4. Vernois, Fabien (25 August 2011). "Le bouclier de Charles Brennus". La Croix (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. Renou, Ewen (25 June 2022). "« Waouh, il a pris cher quand même ! » : reportage avec le restaurateur du Bouclier de Brennus". Ouest-France (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  6. "Le Bouclier de Brennus a été fabriqué à Lizant". La Nouvelle République (in French). 14 April 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. "Palmarès TOP 14" (in French). LNR. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
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