Upon their arrival at Quai Valin, Facundo Bosch and Dany Priso climbed onto the roof of the bus cabin to crack the first smoke bomb of the evening and present the trophy to the 35,000 supporters, according to the prefecture, massed in front of them.

But on the applause meter, the favors were for third line Romain Sazy, at the club for 12 years, when he waved a gigantic yellow and black flag.

Several thousand supporters cheer the La Rochelle players, aboard a double-decker bus, on May 29, 2022 on the quays, the day after their victory in the European Cup final against Leinster, 24-21 in Marseille Yohan Bonnet AFP

The city had not known such fervor since the rise to the Top 14 eight years ago, remembers Mélanie Stégémane, 50 and supporter of the Maritimes "since childhood".

"In 2014, it was madness, but this is the pinnacle," she says.

"We have achieved what we have been looking for for a long time," she said, before a dozen men jumped into the water, to the sound of "Santiano" by Hugues Aufray spat into the port enclosures.

After three finals lost since 2019, Stade Rochelais, a century-old club without a major title so far, has, in the words of its historic third line Romain Sazy, "conjured fate" by beating Leinster (24-21) with a try snatched at the last minute on Saturday.

The joy of the Rochelais after the victorious try of winger Arthur Retière against Leinster, during the final of the European Cup, on May 28, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille Pascal GUYOT AFP

"It's magic, it's unreal", proclaims, eyes half-closed and voice broken by a night of celebration, Olivier, a supporter "there for 20 years, when the stands were still made of wood", with three copies of the newspaper L'Equipe under the arm to "help achieve".

For Olivier, "the click comes from (Ronan) O'Gara", the Irish manager appointed in June 2019, who "brought the culture of winning" to the players as well as to the public, because "before, in the final, we was already happy to be there".

"No longer a club of losers"

"Psychologically it's over, we are no longer a club of losers", summarizes, behind a smile, Amar Ouguerroudj, manager of the 404 Pub in the alleys behind the port, who "did not have a second to breathe" last night to serve his customers.

A historic night for the club, but not for this tenant: on the quantity of beers sold, "a Euro football match with Irish tourists" represents "three times more sales" because "rugby here is still family".

The joy of the Rochelais, European champions after their victory, 24-21 in the final against Leinster, on May 28, 2022 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille NICOLAS TUCAT AFP

"All in yellow and black on the Old Port", had launched the town hall on Saturday at the final whistle.

People from La Rochelle of all ages, including many families in club jerseys, responded to the call, mingling in the afternoon with tourists on the quays of the port, in front of the moored boats and the facades of bars, real estate agencies and tobacconists, adorned with flags or pennants in the colors of the Maritimes.

From dawn, 500 supporters were already waiting for the players when they arrived at the airport.

© 2022 AFP