Top 14: against Bordeaux, it will be farewell time for some emblematic USAP players

Matthew Acebes

It is undoubtedly the one that will have the favors of the applause meter throughout the day. During the warm-up, when the announcer announces his name, at his entrance and, finally, at the farewell ceremony at the end of the match, Mathieu Acebes should be cheered as he should be by all of Aimé-Giral. Admired by some, criticized by others, the winger left his mark on the club. By his character, his dedication, his way of supporting a group.

It was in 2019, during the return to Pro D2, that Patrick Arlettaz left him the keys at that time. And this has formed a collective in its image: which never gives up, which always tries to find the positive everywhere and which manages to transcend itself when necessary. Captain of the USAP for four seasons, winner of the Pro D2 in 2018 and 2021, as well as the 2022 and 2023 access matches, the now Basquo-Catalan will bow out after having worn the blood and gold jersey 167 times. Leaving an indelible mark in the memory of the Catalan public.

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Shahn Eru

He is one of those players who is important in a locker room, even if they play very little. Shahn Eru will leave the USAP after seven years of good and loyal service. A strong man from the Pro D2 years, the second row saw his playing time halved during the move to the Top 14 in 2021. This, however, did not change anything in his behavior and his role in the locker room.

With Piula Faasalele, he had this role of “dad” with Posolo Tuilagi. And he always kept his legendary good humor. Cap on backwards, square meter speaker in hand with the sound on loud, that was Shahn Eru. In any case, sportingly, it will have been very useful to achieve the climbs to the Top 14 in 2018 and 2021. Active with ball in hand, with canes, the speed-power ratio was really very interesting. The proof is that he scored 24 tries with USAP in 128 matches played. Not bad for a second line.

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Afusipa Taumoepeau

Between the World Cup, hamstring and calf injuries, Afusipa Taumoepeau ultimately played very little this season. And if Franck Azéma announced to him very early on that he would not keep him, the Tongan center wanted to give everything to the USAP until the end. Unfortunately, he only played seven Top 14 matches spread over three months. But his time at Perpignan can be described as successful.

Upon his arrival in 2018, he was integrated as a leader of the locker room, despite the bad Top 14 season. Behind, whether in Pro D2, or even sometimes recently in the elite like this season against Toulouse and at Oyonnax, he wore the USAP captain’s armband. At 34, another adventure in France awaits him. We remind you that Narbonne, which plays its promotion to Pro D2 this Sunday (3 p.m.) against Montauban, has shown great interest.

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Sacha Lotrian

A child from the club who leaves the cocoon. Sacha Lotrian, after 15 years at USAP, is leaving for new horizons. The 23-year-old left pillar will join ASM Clermont Auvergne next July. Revealed early on, he was in the lineage of Enzo Forletta and Quentin Walcker before him. Big hopes placed on him, and the French team really not very far after his big 2021-2022 season in Top 14. Then he was bothered by some physical problems last year, to the point of being overtaken by Giorgi Tetrashvili in the hierarchy.

But the young Perpignan native never gave up, held on and will join a coach who has been following him for a while: Christophe Urios. In Clermont, he will try to find a place in a renowned club. A new challenge. In any case, he has one last meeting at Aimé-Giral this Saturday, where he will start against UBB.

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Kélian Galletier

Two seasons were enough for Kélian Galletier to make a place in the hearts of blood and gold supporters. Arriving from Montpellier, where he had always played, number 7 quickly showed his qualities as a man of valor, a fighter, a leader. To the point of being named captain of the USAP when Stade Toulousain visits in May 2023 for the last match of the season at Aimé-Giral. He was also this year, under the orders of Franck Azéma.

He will not be retained at the end of June, but his last performances were of a high level. Living up to the player he is, he who has had 6 caps with the XV of France. Its future is not yet defined. UNITED STATES ? Japan? France ? The third line gives itself time to think. In any case, his two-year stay in Perpignan will have marked his life, as he admitted after the meeting in Montpellier: “Signing for Perpignan remains the best choice of my career”. The Catalan public will undoubtedly reward him.

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