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The club from the Pyrenees was in a do-or-die clash to qualify for the knock-out stages and a 25-17 away win made sure of that.
"We had been waiting for this moment for four seasons", exclaimed Imanol Harinordoquy, emotional after his team's vital victory on Saturday.
"This means everything for the whole club - a rugby family that was on trial with this game", said the Pau and France n°8. Centre Damien Traille added: "I am so happy for the town, and for us as a team. We've been waiting for a long time to participate in the playoffs after two seasons in the play downs"
Play-off pools:
Pool A
Biarritz
Bourgoin
Stade Toulousain
Section Paloise
Pool B
Agen
Perpignan
Stade Franà§ais
Grenoble
While Pau are overjoyed with their result, Castres also have something to smile about. Pau's opponents in the PARKER PEN SHIELD semi final turned over a Bordeaux-Bà¨gles side that was still in with a chance of qualifying for the play-offs at Stade Pierre Antoine on Saturday.
In doing so, Christian Gajan's men, playing without France hooker Raphaà«l Ibanez who was suffering from a stomach upset, won three precious points for the forthcoming playdown stage. The only black cloud above Castres is the fact that former French international and kicker Thierry Lacroix who has recently joined the club picked up a nasty knee injury. He will be unavailable for several weeks.
Castres 24-21 Bordeaux-Bà¨gles
The play down pool:
Castres, Bordeaux-Bà¨gles, Mont-de-Marsan, Montauban, Montferrand, Colomiers, Narbonne, Béziers.
