Stade Francais Retain French Championship

The French capital side retained the French Championship with a decisive 38-20 victory over Perpignan at a packed Stade de France on Saturday, 26 June. The victory made them the top seeds from France for the 10^th anniversary Heineken Cup campaign next season.

It was a bittersweet day for outgoing coach Nick Mallett, who will leave the Paris side to return home to South Africa.

The 38-year-old Italian international Dominguez, who has scored 645 points in Heineken Cup history, kicked five penalties, dropped a goal and converted one of his side's two tries to provide a fitting end to his seven year career at Stade.

He left the field to a standing ovation after an hour to be replaced by David Skrela, who chipped in with a penalty and a conversion. The tries came Italian flanker Mauro Bergamasco and Argentinean fullback Ignacio Corleto, with Christophe Dominici completing the scoring with a drop goal.

'It's my fourth title with Stade Francais but I very much appreciated that the other players invited me to be the first one to lift the Bouclier de Brennus (the French championship's shield-shaped trophy),' said Dominguez.

'For me, they are not just players and they are not just team mates - they are my friends.'

For former Springbok coach, Mallett, it was a second successive French Championship title to add to the 1998 Tri-nations title and third place in the 1999 World Cup he clinched with South Africa.

Stade Francais dominated the final, leading 15-6 at halftime and 38-6 on the hour before Perpignan ran in consolation tries through wing Pascal Bomati and former Wallaby outside-half Manny Edmonds.