Beaten in the European Challenge by Clermont (36-16) in 2019 then by Toulouse in the Top 14 (18-8) and in the European Cup (22-17) last season, the Maritimes have finally shattered the glass ceiling.

A real feat against one of the most successful teams in the competition.

When Captain Grégory Alldritt raised the cup in the Marseille sky, he no doubt had a thought for all these defeats, now forgotten.

"We learned that reaching the final is not an end (smile). Last year, it was almost a surprise to reach the final at Twickenham. We did not expect it, it was wonderful. Now it's no longer a surprise. Last year, something was taken from us", admitted the third international line before this fifth Franco-Irish final.

The joy of La Rochelle flanker Grégory Aldritt, after the try scored by hooker Pierre Bourgarit against Leinster, during the European Cup final, on May 28, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille Pascal GUYOT AFP

"I still have this image of Toulouse lifting the cup in front of us. It has really been our motivation all season. We have climbed the ladder and we all found ourselves more motivated than ever," he continued, assuring not wanting to taste defeat again.

It's done: Stade Rochelais is now European champion.

It is the 13th titled club in European rugby's most prestigious club competition.

Ronan O'Gara's men also prevent Cian Healy and Jonathan Sexton from becoming the most successful European Cup players.

The two Irish internationals will have to wait another year to sew a fifth star, like the Toulouse team, on their jersey.

'Marseille-Deflandre'

O'Gara, he played a terrible trick on his compatriots: the former Munster opener, already best director (1365 pts in 110 matches) of a competition he won in 2006 and 2008 as an opener from Munster, joins Toulouse coach Ugo Mola (1996 and 2021) and his Leinster counterpart Leo Cullen (2009, 2011, 2012, 2018), the only men sacred as a player and as a coach.

In a Vélodrome committed to its cause, the club with the caravel also becomes the fourth French formation to settle on the roof of Europe after Toulouse (1996, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2021) obviously but also Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015) and Brive (1997).

This time, the duel between the ambitious with long teeth and the insatiable ogre turned to the advantage of the French, with a try, one minute from the end of the substitute Arthur Retière.

Because the Rochelais, courageous, stood up to the Irish steamroller, which had however knocked out the leader of the Top 14 Montpellier (89-7) then the holder Toulouse (40-17) before.

Despite their indiscipline (13 penalties including four for Dany Priso alone), they even did better than resist, the Dublin franchise only responding to the tests of Raymond Rhule (10th), Pierre Bourgarit (61st) and Retière (79th) only by the foot of Sexton and Byrne.

South African winger from La Rochelle, Raymond Rhule escapes the tackle of a Leinster player to score a try, during the European Cup final, on May 28, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille NICOLAS TUCAT AFP

And if the Rochelais hold their star, they owe it to their selflessness and the work of their forwards.

The joy of the Rochelais after the try scored by hooker Pierre Bourgarit against Leinster, during the final of the European Cup, on May 28, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille NICOLAS TUCAT AFP

What a long way to get there.

Still in Pro D2 in 2014, the La Rochelle club rose through the ranks, little by little, until it became a cador both nationally and on the continental scene.

Here he is installed at the table of the big ones.

The King of Europe will now have to confirm.

Fourth in the Top 14, La Rochelle will have to win in Lyon on the 26th and last day, in a week, to validate its ticket for the final phase.

But, since Saturday, impossible is not Rochelais.

© 2022 AFP