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Their 27-26 victory over Bourgoin at Parc des Sports et de L'Amitie, Narbonne, on Saturday not only earned them their first domestic title in 10 years, but also clinched a place in next season's Heineken Cup.
The Challenge Sud Radio tournament was played between the top 16 clubs in France, with six Pool matches being followed by three knock-out rounds. Castres showed their class throughout the competition by beating four of this season's French Heineken Cup teams - Agen and Biarritz in the Pool stages, the reigning champions Toulouse in the quarter-finals, Biarritz again in the semi-finals and then Bourgoin in the final.
"It was important for the players, the fans and the club for us to get back into the Heineken Cup. This win has lifted a weight off our shoulders because we haven't been in the Heineken Cup for two seasons," said the Castres full back Romain Teulet.
Both sides scored two tries in a highly entertaining game that had the large crowd on the edge of their seats right until the final whistle.
In the end, it took an 80th minute try by Benjamin Lhande to clinch victory for Castres and break the hearts of the Bourgoin players and supporters.
Three penalties by Yohan Dalla Riva gave Castres the early impetus, but by half-time Bourgoin had edged their noses in front thanks to a penalty from Benjamin Boyet and a try by centre Florian Fritz which Boyet converted.
Castres had Dalla Riva in the sin-bin at the start of the second half, yet they managed to notch 13 points when they were reduced to 14 men to regain the lead. International scrum half Alexandre Albouy grabbed a try within a minute of the re-start and Teulet added the conversion points.
Teulet then stretched the lead with a penalty and a drop goal to give
his side a 12 point advantage. Italian prop Federico Pucciariello then charged over for a Bourgoin try, which Boyet converted, and the revival had started.
Slowly, but surely, Bourgoin clawed their way back into the game and 62nd minute drop goal from scrum half Christophe Laussucq cut the gap to two points. As the game moved into the final 10 minutes Boyet took the initiative and his second penalty put Bourgoin back into the lead for the second time. Better was to follow two minutes from time when the outside half dropped the third goal of the match to make it 26-22.
But Castres weren't finished with and Lhande's injury time try, which came from a line-out burst by Xavier Sadourney, brought victory right at the death.
