Grief in rugby: Joseph Pujo, star of the Stade Bagnérais, died

Grief in rugby: Joseph Pujo, star of the Stade Bagnérais, died

Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Frankreich - The Stade Bagnérais Rugby mourns the loss of a legend! Joseph Pujo, a former player who shaped the club's golden era, died at the age of 78. Pujo, who played as a second row, was a crucial player when the club was promoted to the first division in the 1968-1969 season. This was a historical moment for the city of Bagnères-de-Bigorre and its passionate fans.

The grief for Joseph Pujo is deep. The Stade Bagnérais expressed his dismay in an emotional contribution to social media: "The Stade Bagnérais is in mourning. We learned about Joseph Pujo's death, who left us at the age of 78. Joseph was one of the great players in the promotion of Stade Bagnérais Rugby into the first division during the SB season. Share the pain of his relatives and express their sincere condolences.

a hero of the golden era

Joseph Pujo leaves a legacy that will live on forever in the hearts of fans. Together with his teammates such as Bergès, Lagleyze and Lacrampe, he led the team to a decisive victory against Marmande on March 30, 1969, which secured promotion to the national league. The final result of 14 to 12 was the highlight of a long journey, which was peppered with challenges, including the risk of relegation in the 1967-1968 season.

The Stade Bagnérais, founded in 1945, had the ambition from the start to establish itself at the national level. After years of fighting, the club finally managed to climb into the first division in 1969, supported by Pujo and his unique style of play, the "Game à la Bagnéraise". Even if the club could not win the title in the following years, the memories of the final games in the season 1978-1979 and 1980-1981 remain alive.

For the members of the club and the fans, Joseph Pujo will always be considered a symbol of dedication and courage. His memory will live in the Annals des Stade of Bagnérais, as a key figure of the promotion to the first division and as the cornerstone of the Rugby of this glorious time.