Date and venue confirmed for French Elite Championship Grand Final

The French Elite Championship Grand Final will be played as part of a festival of rugby league in Narbonne later this month.

The 12,000 capacity Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie will once again hold the showpiece final on Sunday May 28 (6pm kick-off), at the end of a weekend that also features several junior, women’s and wheelchair games.

Also on the Sunday is the Women’s Elite Championship final, plus the finals from the Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 competitions. On the Saturday, the lower league women’s finals will be played as well as the two wheelchair finals.

Narbonne is situated 60km east of Carcassonne, and 65km north of Perpignan.

The French Elite Championship play-offs get underway this weekend, with Lezignan taking on St Gaudens and Albi welcoming Pia.

The winners then go on to face Carcassonne or Limoux in the semi-finals the following weekend.

“A beautiful celebration” of French rugby league

Luc Lacoste, president of the FFR XIII: “First of all, I would like to thank the Mayor of Narbonne and all its teams for the unfailing support provided to us. (It) seemed important to be able to install “Le Printemps du XIII” again this year at the crossroads of so many of our clubs.

“Last year’s edition was a huge success with the attendance of the entire treizist public and even beyond. I call on everyone to repeat this success, and I hope once again that aficionados will be able to demonstrate that they love this fabulous sport during these finals of the French championships.

“The Printemps du XIII is the representation of our DNA, Sport for all accessible to all, and whether it is from the XIII armchair (on Saturday), to young people, to women, up to of course the Elite 1 men’s final (Sunday), it will be a great party. We expect a very broad (crowd).”

Catalans Dragons are at home to Wakefield in Super League on the Friday night of the weekend, May 26.

Didier Mouly, Mayor of Narbonne and President of Greater Narbonne: “It’s a real honour for our territory to once again host this major event national. Narbonne is a land of rugby, whatever its form, with a tradition and a history anchored in the genes of its inhabitants.

“Equipped with appropriate infrastructure and ideally located at the crossroads of territories practicing the XIII, the City of Narbonne is happy to participate in this beautiful celebration of the “Spring of the XIII”.

“Thanks to the organisers for their trust and their support to promote our territory and good luck to all competitors!”

Finals schedule

Saturday May 27

• 1pm – Women’s finals (Under 17, DN, Elite Basse)
• 4pm – Wheelchair Elite 2
• 6pm – Wheelchair Elite 1

Sunday May 28

• 10am – Under 15s Final
• 11.30am – Under 17s Final
• 1.15pm – Under 19s final
• 3.30pm – Women’s Elite Championship Final (televised)
• 6pm – Men’s Elite Championship Final (televised)