Bernard Guasch
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Bernard Guasch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 3 April 1960 Perpignan, France | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | Chairman of the Catalans Dragons | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby league career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Stand-off | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bernard Guasch (born 3 April 1960)[1][2] is a French former rugby league player, who played as stand-off and the current CEO of the Super League and French Rugby League Championship team, the Catalans Dragons[3] and has been since their formation in 2001.
Guasch's grandfather, José Guasch, was a Catalan politician, mayor of L'Espluga de Francolí during the Spanish Second Republic and, after fleeing to Northern Catalonia due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, he was taken prisoner to the Argelers concentration camp.[4] His parents and siblings also moved as refugees to join their grandfather. José became a rugby union player for USA Perpignan, notably disputing the final of the 1951-52 French Rugby Union Championship. Wanting to open a butchery, he asked for a loan for USAP, however, the latter refused and XIII Catalan supported his initiative if he played rugby league, which was what he did.[4][5] He speaks Catalan fluently.[4]
Playing career
Guasch played as stand-off for XIII Catalan between 1977 and 1982 and for Saint-Estève XIII between 1982 and 1989. His brother, Bruno Guasch, played for XIII Catalan, and his son Joan Guasch played for Dragons Catalans and Saint-Estève XIII Catalan.
