RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS:
| Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys | ||
| Written by: tits&tans (Titans) | ||
| February 4th 2010 01:43 AM | ||
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the French Rugby League. Probably suffering from more oppression than any other sporting body in the history of the universe, the FRL began as the culmination of a number of key sporting events and has managed to outlive many of its erstwhile opponents. In late December 1933, the Australian and British Rugby League Test teams staged an exhibition game in Paris. Amidst a swirling blizzard, the dazzling skills of the ARL and EFL boys inspired the French to contemplate this new sport. So excited were the crowds, that they chaired the Kangaroos captain off the pitch. League fever then seized the capital and it was the endeavours of Jean Galia, a Union player, that helped launch the movement. Demonstration matches were organised across the country and a team even crossed the Channel to face the might of the British. On April 6th 1934 the French Rugby League was born. In the following four years, the popularity of League skyrocketed. In fact, it became so popular that it threatened Union’s position as the prime rugby sport in France. It was projected that, within five years, there would be more League clubs than Union clubs. So worried were Union supporters that they took to acts of vandalism and terrorism – sprinkling glass on to pitches, flooding fields and intimidating pre-game crowds. Despite this, French Rugby is still able to boast an incredible first. In 1939 they were the first French team of either code to win against their arch enemy – the English. With the outbreak of war across Europe, League faced its darkest years in France. It was during these years that the Union movement flexed its muscles and through its extensive influence persuaded the Nazi-collaborationist Vichy government to decree a resolution in 1941 to dissolve the French Rugby League. League was banned. Even though the ban was lifted soon after hostilities in Europe ceased, it wasn’t until June 1991 that League could actually be called rugby. During this time League had to adopt the name Jeu à Treize. Despite this nomenclature nonsense, League went from strength to strength. In 1951 the French trounced the Aussies down under in a three-match Test series that was watched by over 450,000 spectators in total. The visitors played exquisite footie and tore the hosts to shreds. Even more incredible was the fact that they repeated this victory four years later in front of ever more screaming Aussies. France hosted its first World Cup in 1954 and narrowly missed the trophy in one of the highest quality WC finals in history, eventually losing to Great Britain 16-12. Since the ‘60s however, it has been less of a fairy tale. The impact of banning of the sport irreversibly, according to many pundits of the day, affected the careers of the players of that period and led to this slump. In recent times though, the future is looking brighter than ever for Les Coqs. Key events such as the 1981 French Championship Final between XIII Catalan and Villeneuve, the adaption of Les Catalans to the ESL and Toulouse to the ENL and, from this year, the addition of France to the Tri-Nations have kicked some life back into French League. Australia’s narrow victory over France in 2004 has shown that the FRL still could be a force to reckon with. This is unsurprising given all that it has had to endure over its short, tumultuous history. Indeed the French have displayed all the characteristics of our great game: courage and resilience in the face of adversity. Surprising from the country that gave the world “white-hatted ponces” and possibly the least athletic sport on the planet – pétanque. However, League’s ability to flourish and survive may be testament to its innate character and that of the people that the game attracts rather than the je ne sais quoi of les Francais. Posted in the F7s Matches forum in July 2009 The F7s is an article writing competition hosted on The Front Row forums here on LeagueUnlimited.com To join a team, click on the banner below  FOR ALL F7s MATCHES, CLICK HERE |
