On the occasion of the ASBH-SU Agen match this Friday, Patrick Fort, the former three-quarterback of AS Biterroise, looks back on Béziers' last title gleaned against Agen, in 1984. This match ended by a terrible penalty shootout, won by the Biterrois. This Friday, November 29, “Papy” and his former teammates will play the match again with the Agen actors of this final.
The actions, the minutes and seconds ticking off the clock, the players, the opponents, the atmosphere… It's been 40 years and Patrick Fort has forgotten nothing about the victory of AS Biterroise, his team, against Agen. It was May 26, 1984, in Paris, at the Parc des Princes in front of more than 44,000 spectators. This incredible final was decided on penalties (3 shots on goal to 1, 12-12 at the end of regulation time, 21-21 after extra time) and it was the Biterrois who raised their arms to the sky. This first marked the history of French rugby, and of course, all the players in the duel.
Redo the match for the umpteenth time
This Friday, November 29, on the occasion of Agen's visit to the Raoul-Barrière stadium, as part of the Pro D2 championship, these players will be able, for the umpteenth time, to replay this match in their heads. Starting with a very enthusiastic Papy Fort at the idea of reuniting with a large number of his former teammates and around ten of the Agenais who had played in this legendary game.
The most notable because of its outcome
The Biterrois was then playing the fourth final of his career after raising his arms to the sky in 1980 (Toulouse), 1981 (Bagnères-de-Bigorre) and 1983 (Nice): “This final was the most memorable for me, because of its outcome. It was really the perfect draw, says Papy, the two teams going blow for blow. The penalty shootout took place in two stages with three shots for each team. First, we hit between the 15 and 22 meters, to the right of the posts. I succeeded first, Michel Fabre and Philippe Bonhoure failed theirs. In Agen, Pierre Montlaur and Philippe Mothe missed their shots while Bernard Viviès scored his. So we were still tied and we passed to the left of the posts.”
“Bernard Viviès collapsed”
If Papy Fort then misses his shot, Michel Fabre and Philippe Bonhoure succeed in theirs. On the Agen side, Pierre Montlaur and Bernard Viviès missing their target, Béziers can then exult: “Bernard Viviès literally collapsed and we are all huggedsays the former center. This match was very tough with two teams with different games. Agen played a lot and we, as usual, did everything to destabilize them in the middle with our forwards. Honestly, this shield should have been shared!”
This Thursday, at the entrance to the Béziers locker room, Papy Fort displayed photos, a jersey and a shield from this final. Enough to get Clément Ancely's teammates into the swing of their match against the Agenais. This Friday, from the hands of the players from the legendary final, they will all receive a jersey. A whole symbol of the unity reigning between these old glories of the great epic of AS Biterroise and their successors.
