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In MyMemeCards, the meme card game, “The smell of merguez” is a common card of the Memes FR pack, number 1244 of the collection, and the 753rd best-known meme of its 3507 cards. Here is what the meme means, where it comes from, and how to get its card.
What does the “The smell of merguez” meme mean?
The joke works because of its scale. Lockdown made everybody miss something different, and while many people would name family, travel or live events, Urios picked the smell of merguez, the spicy sausages grilled outside French stadiums and at barbecues. The phrase is used to admit a humble craving, to tease someone nostalgic for match-day food, or to caption a photo of a grill. It carries affection more than mockery: it says that small sensory habits are what make a gathering feel real.
Where does the “The smell of merguez” meme come from?
Christophe Urios is a former hooker turned rugby union coach, born in Montpellier in 1965. He has led Castres, Oyonnax, Union Bordeaux-Bègles and Clermont, and he is known in France for blunt, funny interviews that travel well online. The 2019-2020 Top 14 season was suspended and then stopped because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which put rugby, like everything else, on pause. In that setting Urios talks about missing the smell of merguez, a classic of match days. A Sud Ouest video carries the title “Christophe Urios et l’odeur des merguez”. The clip was then cut into short extracts and shared as a quote, and the line became shorthand for missing life’s simple things.
- December 20, 1965Christophe Urios is born in Montpellier.
- 2019-2020The Top 14 season is suspended and stopped because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
How to use the “The smell of merguez” meme
- Answer “the smell of merguez” when someone asks what you miss most.
- Caption a barbecue or stadium food photo with the line.
- Use it to joke about a very down-to-earth kind of nostalgia.
- Tease a friend who misses games mostly for the snacks.
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The “The smell of merguez” card in MyMemeCards
| Number | No. 1244 |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Common |
| Collection | Memes FR pack |
| Fame | 50/100 · #753 of 3507 |
| Recycle value | 5 MemeCoins (15 in Shiny) |
| Suggested by | @tazlebask |
How to get the “The smell of merguez” card
Every pack holds 5 meme cards, the first 3 of them Common; The smell of merguez comes out of the Memes FR pack as a common card. The pack odds say what each rarity weighs.
Your first pack is free and needs no account. After that a new free pack lands every 10 minutes, up to 3 waiting for you. You can also buy the card with MemeCoins on the market, bid for it at auction, or trade it — and a double recycles into 5 MemeCoins.
The reprints of the “The smell of merguez” card
The “The smell of merguez” card was reprinted as Rare (No. 1,959) and Epic (No. 4,583). A reprint is the same meme printed again, with a number of its own and a higher rarity than its first printing, which was common. Its face reads “Reprinted card · Higher rarity”.
Every printing is dealt in the packs of the Memes FR pack, each at its own rarity: the higher it is, the rarer the card is to pull. Copies of the first printing already pulled stay as they are, and any printing counts toward completing a set.
MyMemeCards reprints a meme when it deserves more than the rarity of its first printing, such as a classic that became iconic after it came out: the reprint gives it a place among the most sought-after cards without taking anything from the players who already had it.
Open your free pack
5 meme cards, one of them at least Rare. One free pack per person.
Free · no account needed
Odds per card, averaged over a pack: Common 72%, Rare 23.9%, Epic 3.2%, Legendary 0.56%, Mythic 0.3%, Full Art ≤ 0.1%, Shiny 0.2%. Cards 1 to 3 are always Common, cards 4 and 5 climb the rarities. Rates drop for cards that circulate a lot. Details
Memes like “The smell of merguez”
More cards of the Memes FR pack
Frequently asked questions
Who is Christophe Urios?
He is a former French rugby hooker who became a coach, leading clubs such as Castres, Oyonnax, Bordeaux-Bègles and Clermont.
What is the merguez meme?
It is a clip where Urios mentions missing the smell of merguez during lockdown. The contrast between a big crisis and a small craving made it quotable.
What does the phrase mean?
It humorously admits that a simple pleasure is missed, usually one tied to sharing food at a stadium, barbecue or party.
How do I get the The smell of merguez meme card?
Open a pack of MyMemeCards: “The smell of merguez” is a common card of the Memes FR pack. Your first pack is free, with no account, and you can also buy, trade or win the card at auction.
How rare is the The smell of merguez card?
It is a Common card. Rarity decides which pack slot can deal it, and what it is worth on the market.
Sources: Wikipédia — Christophe Urios · checked on October 18, 2026.
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