40 years of Barracudas: a family story

The island's legendary rugby club celebrates its 40th anniversary. A longevity acquired thanks to the love of the oval ball, but above all to the conviviality that reigns among the members.

How do you sum up 40 years of existence? At first, our interviewees are shy. An anecdote here, an anecdote there. There are so many episodes to tell, how can you choose just one? Sometimes, there's no need for words. The warmth in their voices and the smiles that stretch across their faces are enough to tell the story of their love for the club. "If it hadn't been for the Barras, we might have left the island," says Philippe Bertin, aka Porcu.

He's not the only one: many players have fallen in love with Saint-Barth thanks to the Barracudas. "I arrived on the island on Friday, and the following week I took out my license with the Barras," says Denis Ragot, the current president of the Barracudas. Others, like the emblematic Paul Bessières, came to Saint-Barth just to join the club. Invited by his friend Fabien Maurel, the player who cut his teeth at Stade Toulousain joined the Barracudas 15 years ago (JSB1586). Thanks to these stalwarts, who love the club more than the sport, the Barracudas have created a close-knit group of athletes and volunteers. The family aspect is very important," says Paul Bessières. We'll always help each other out if someone needs a job or accommodation. "

The Barracudas team in December 1994.

Barbecue and beach rugby
Denis Ragot insists that, although he has been involved with many rugby clubs, this one is nothing like the others: "We're islanders, so we all know each other a little bit, and we also see each other outside rugby. "Over the years, the core group of players who have settled permanently on the island has grown. But in the early days of the club, the coaches had to cope with the incessant turn-over of seasonal workers. In 1986, the association set up by Gonzague Delvas and Dominique De Bénédictis had around twenty players, mostly seasonal workers who couldn't make the trip. A far cry from today's 130 members.

At the time, Luc Rio was 11 years old. He still remembers training on the field that covered the former landfill site. "Sometimes we'd have to stop the game because a piece of scrap metal was sticking out of the ground," says the rugby player. In the 90s, the Barras found it difficult to break into the Guadeloupe championship. The players were not discouraged, however, and played matches against clubs from the English Isles. Victories weren't always forthcoming from the outset, but the conviviality was already there. "It was really great, we got together with friends, had barbecues and even played beach rugby," explains Luc Rio.

In May 2003, Les Barracudas won the Guadeloupe championship for the first time in Baie Mahault.

"What happens in rugby, stays in rugby".
The new millennium saw the Barracudas enter their golden age. A golden period launched by their first Guadeloupe championship win in 2003. This event is etched in the memories not only of the club's members, but also of the people of Saint-Barth. "We had a party on the traffic circle in front of Le Piment and blocked the cars all the way to the airport," smiles Philippe Bertin. The player, coach and former club president could trot out a string of anecdotes: the stripped calendars, the recording of an album, or the unforgettable 3rd halves in hotels or airports. But let's not go into too much detail: "What happens in rugby, stays in rugby".

With ten victories in the Guadeloupe championship and three titles in the Antilles-Guyane championship, the Barracudas have had their fair share of celebrations. Attracted by this sense of celebration or taste for sport, more and more curious people have joined the association. The classic senior team made way for the rugby school, the veteran team Les Poissons Clowns and the women's selection Les Rascasses. The latter won their first match last weekend against Les Bruc des Abymes (see page 9). On their return to Saint-Barth, they were received by a welcoming committee, just as the seniors were.

In 2012, the Barras won a sixth star in the Guadeloupe rugby championship and brought home the Bouclier de Brennus.

A new supporters' club
The Barras know how to draw a crowd at every match. "We're lucky to have the stands packed at every match," enthuses Paul Bessières. To emphasize this commitment, Denis Ragot is even going to launch a supporters' club with its own T-shirt, president and official name. All in the marine universe, of course. Those who love rugby but not tackling will be able to join the Barracudas family through this club.
A family where all generations now rub shoulders. Former players who can no longer be on the pitch are often behind the bar as volunteers. "When you pass by the Barras, you remember it and you're grateful," says Paul Bessières, who hung up his boots in October 2024. Younger players who left the island to make their own experiences are starting to return, and are keen to get back to the club of their childhood. Such is the case of Philippe Bertin's son Tim, who has resumed training at the Saint-Jean stadium. Even though Porcu had left the pitch, he decided to resume his license with the Barras to play with his son, as a family.

Historic double in 2017: on Monday April 17, at Le Robert stadium in Martinique, the Saint-Barth XV won its 3rd Antilles-Guyane (TAG) championship title, following those of 2013 and 2016 (pictured). Two months later, on Saturday June 3, the XV de Saint-Barth lifted the Guadeloupe championship trophy with a 10-6 victory over Bruc, the club from Les Abymes.

Testimonials

To mark the 40th anniversary of Les Barracudas rugby club, some of Guadeloupe's leading figures in the world of rugby shared anecdotes and birthday messages.

Frédéric Rouillon
president Ligue de Rugby Guadeloupe
"Oh la la! Playing on that old pitch, it was tuff or stabilized, I'm not sure... but I do remember the bits of shell we used to take off our skin after the match (laughs). From memory, we used to sleep in an old library near the cemetery when we came to play in Saint Barth. It was a real expedition to get up there to play, but at the end of the day you're always made very welcome by the Barracudas, which is really something to experience when you play rugby in the West Indies. "

Rachel Masi,
president of Archiball Rugby Saint Martin
"On behalf of Archiball SXM, it is with joy and respect that we celebrate your 40 years, the Barracudas. Four decades of bringing rugby to life and passing on the values of the sport on our little pebbles. Barras and Archis are first and foremost our women's and youth rugby teams, but also the unmissable North Island derby, a fierce 80-minute battle in which respect and friendship always win out in the end. Vive les Barras, vive les îles du Nord, vive le Rugby! "

Samuel Moreau
former federal referee and former president of Bastruc
"The Barracudas are one of the symbols of this magnificent island of Saint Barthélémy, with their fervor, this 16th man who supports the ciels et blancs. It's an extraordinary trip for our youngsters, and whatever the category, they're always a tough team to play against - the proof is that they often win! Rugby players from Basse-Terrien have also worn the jersey. For my part, I was the 1st to referee on Saint Jean's synthetic pitch... having played on the old one, I can tell you that it's a fine evolution (laughs). "

Damien Gateau,
RCM educator
"Les Barras is all about conviviality and a state of mind that led us to have Marius Domont as our club's godfather. This club, like this player, is an example for West Indian rugby and for our youth. "

In 2022, the Rugby des îles du Nord under-12 team won another trophy, the René Dane Challenge in Le Diamant, Martinique. The youngsters from the Saint-Barth Rugby School finished first, after seven matches against teams from Martinique and Guadeloupe,

Dominique Graniou,
coach of Bruc Abymes and former coach of the Guadeloupe rugby team.
"40 years is a great age for this key club in West Indies rugby. I have many memories of our matches with Bruc against the Barracudas and also with the Guadeloupe national team, when I had the pleasure of coaching the Saint Barths. Happy birthday Barras. "

Jérémy Guyard,
RC Goyave leisure coach.
"With Goyave, our 1st trip there, 8 years ago, was epic! We took the plane, the bus, the boat, the cars... and when we arrived in Saint Jean, we discovered a brand new sports arena, with lighting, a perfect pitch, top infrastructure... everything we didn't have in Guadeloupe (laughs)! Well, we took 80-0 and even went through the Rugbynistère, that's saying something! Fortunately, we had a great 3rd half with these guys. It's true that this club knows how to entertain. "

Yvan Bodot,
founding member of Rugby Club de Saint-François.
"Happy birthday! When I played against Saint Barth, they used to give me the fever, but I loved refereeing for them afterwards. The Barras are memories and encounters that have built us all up, both humanly and athletically, and that's how you see a fine club. "

Gérald Maitre,
in charge of the Jaguar school
"The Jaguars (Rugby Club de Baie-Mahault) salute the Barracudas for their 40 years of passion and commitment. Still a young club, barely seven years old, the Jaguars can only admire the achievements of a team celebrating its 40th anniversary - an age of reason for such a sporting adventure. Behind this longevity, one can easily imagine the work accomplished: generations of volunteers mobilized to structure a unique club, isolated on a small island, 40 minutes by boat from Saint-Martin and more than two hours from Guadeloupe. A challenge brilliantly met, and one that commands respect.
The Jaguars had the pleasure of welcoming the Barracudas to several rugby school tournaments, where their young players demonstrated a remarkable level of play. And let's not forget the Poissons-Clowns, the leisure team, whose visit to the clubhouse remains an unforgettable memory. Bravo to them for their exemplary performance, and long live Les Barras! Happy anniversary! "

Maël Aumonier

Pierre Calvet,
president of Rugby Club du Moule
"The Emerald Wedding between the Barracudas and Rugby! The Barras are a lot of highs, some lows and champions, like Marius Domont! What's more, your tournaments are fabulous, and for your 40th birthday, we're all
Barras. "

David Alquier,
co-president of Good Luck Gosier
"This is a team that has always been solid, even on their former landfill's clay court. Among the teams to beat every year, the Barracudas are clearly one of them. And it's true, it's always nice to go and play there, because you can sometimes meet stars, like Naomi Campbell, for example (laughs). "

David Rondeau,
Archiball Rugby School Manager
"Historically, for rugby schools in the Northern Isles, the trip to Saint-Barth was the trip of the year for our kids. We're brothers, sometimes enemies, but only on the pitch, never off it. We're each other's role models, supporting them in victory and cheering them on in defeat, and they do the same for us. Archi and Barras are like brothers, you've grown up with them, you've always clashed with them, but you've done the 400 tricks with them, or rather 40 for that matter. "