Montpellier (AFP)

Perpignan is back!

Only two years after leaving it by the back door, Usap will return to the Top 14 next season thanks to its victory over Biarritz (33-14) on Saturday in Montpellier in the Pro D2 final.

The Catalan club, seven times champion of France, did honor to its rank after flying over the regular season, which it ended with the best attack and the best defense.

Another monument of French rugby, with five Brennus shields, the BO will have a second chance to climb into the elite during a jump-off against the 13th in the Top 14.

It will be next Saturday, at home, either against his great Basque rival, Bayonne, or against Pau, according to the results of the last day of the Top 14 in the evening.

Under a bright sun and in front of a thousand supporters swarmed in the stands of the GGL Stadium, the usual home of Montpellier Hérault Rugby, the Perpignanais achieved as during their semi-final against Oyonnax last weekend a convincing start materialized by a test in the corner of New Zealand winger George Tisley in the 10th minute.

Sure of their collective strength, more enterprising and superior in conquest, they then patiently increased the score against too undisciplined Biarrots.

Thanks in particular to their 21-year-old back Melvyn Jaminet, author of 23 points alone, including an opportunistic try at the end of the match.

Revelation of the season in Pro D2 over his crazy raises, his debut on the upper floor will be eagerly awaited next season.

Usap had almost killed all suspense in this final in the 52nd minute and the try of the Fijian opening half Ben Volavola while the Biarrots were outnumbered following the yellow card scooped by the former All Black Francis Saili .

Two internationals among a nice range of high-sounding names lined up on the Montpellier lawn on Saturday, a sign of the ambitions of these two clubs with strong local roots, relegated the same year to the elite's antechamber, in 2014, after having been at the top in the 2000s.

Perpignan had briefly regained the Top 14 during a nightmarish 2018-2019 season (15 defeats in the first 15 days) from which it will hope to have learned the lessons to maintain itself next year.

Coming from very far in the semifinals against Vannes with a try after the siren, Biarritz, third in the regular season of Pro D2, will have to show something else during the jump-off next weekend.

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