Five-time champions and two-time European Cup runners-up Biarritz were relegated from French rugby's Top 14 on Saturday ending an 18-year stay in the elite division.
Biarritz, founded in 1913 and boasting legendary international fullback Serge Blanco as president, had their fate sealed by a 16-10 defeat at Perpignan.
Despite boasting the talents of skipper Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili, the signs of decline were evident in recent seasons with ninth-place finishes in 2012 and 2013 making the title triumphs of 2002, 2005 and 2006 look distant memories.
On Saturday they were holding on at 10-10 at the interval against Perpignan.
Welsh centre Aled Brew gave them a confidence-boosting edge with an 11th-minute try converted by Julien Peyrelongue, but Perpignan's English winger Richard Haughton scored a try on 20 minutes, converted by Welsh star James Hook.
Hook had already kicked an early penalty with Peyrelongue also knocking over an injury-time three points for 10-10 at the break.
However, Hook succeeded with two second-half penalties to give Perpignan victory and send Biarritz into the second division despite four more matches still to play.
