The Bouclier de Brennus (French pronunciation: [buklie də bʁenys]), or Brennus Shield in English, is a trophy awarded annually to the French rugby union club that wins the domestic league.

The shield was not named, as it is often believed, after the famous Gallic warrior Brennus but rather artist Charles Brennus, co-founder of the Union des sociétés françaises de sports athlétiques (USFSA), the original governing body of rugby union in France. Charles Brennus sculpted the shield himself in 1892, based on an original design from his friend and fellow USFSA co-founder Pierre de Coubertin, the man who founded the modern Olympic Games.

Standing 1 metre (3.3 ft) high, 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) wide and weighing around 20 kilograms (44 lb), the trophy consists of a brass shield and plaque both fixed on a wooden support made of ash. An integral part of French sporting folklore, the Brennus Shield is one of the most recognisable trophies in France.

The Bouclier de Brennus was the brainchild of baron Pierre de Coubertin, the later founder of the modern Olympic Games, who recognised the need for a trophy to be awarded to the first winner of the rugby union domestic league set up by the Union des sociétés françaises de sports athlétiques (USFSA), which was, at the time, the organisation in charge of all amateur sporting competitions in France.^[1]

As president of USFSA, Coubertin went to his good friend Charles Brennus, himself member and co-founder of USFSA and professional engraver, to have a trophy made for the first final in French rugby history scheduled for 20 March 1892.^[1] The creation was then named after the medallist and sculptor and does not refer to the famous Gallic warrior Brennus.^[2]

Standing 1 metre (3.3 ft) high, 75 centimetres (2.46 ft) wide, 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) thick and weighing around 20 kilograms (44 lb), the trophy consists of a brass shield which includes the arms of USFSA as well as the moto "Ludus Pro Patria" (Latin for "Games for Motherland"), a plaque which would receive the names of the clubs winning the trophy and finally a wooden support made from ash.^[3][4][2]

Because Charles Brennus was also the president of Parisian club SCUF it was decided that this club would be the legal custodian of the trophy. Up until today tradition dictates that during the award ceremony that immediately follows the final of the French league, the trophy should be given to the winning team by 2 young players of Parisian club Sporting Club Universitaire de France (SCUF). Although they are the legal custodian of the trophy, SCUF have never won it. The closest the club came was in 1911 and 1913 when it lost the final on both occasions.^[2]

Like other sporting trophies, the Bouclier de Brennus had a very eventful life and by the end of the 20th century was in battered condition. A century of celebrations and resulting mistreatment, including the shield being used as a tray, skateboard or surfboard on several occasions, had taken its toll. Players and rugby union supporters nicknamed it "Le Bout de bois" (French for "The Piece of Wood").^[5] The original trophy had to be used one last time in 2004 when it was discovered that one of Perpignan's titles was missing from the replica. It was therefore decided that the shield would be restored and kept in a safe place; a replica was made and awarded in lieu since 2004.^[6]

The inaugural winner of the trophy was Racing Club de France in 1892. Up until 1898 only clubs from Paris could participate in the league; this changed in 1899 when Stade Bordelais (Bordeaux) won the title and became the first club outside of Paris to win the shield. As of today, a total of 28 clubs have had the honour to see their name engraved on the hallowed trophy. Montpellier were the most recent first-time champions, having won their first title in 2022. The most recent champions are Toulouse in 2023, and they have the record of winning titles with twenty-two victories.

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