Another wonderful newspaper print from Dedet's team, touring in Great Britain in February 1899.

The caption only refers to "The French Rugby Football team now in England" but I am sure that you all have recognized my favourite team... (actually, I am sure that the seller of the print didn't, otherwise he would have asked for more money...)

My regular readers will recognize Louis Dedet, sitting in the middle as the Captain, or Henri Amand standing with the white scarf (he was the singer of the gang, so protecting his throat during winter... he once explained it was also the reason for him to wear a beard...). I am investigating to identify the others (any help will be welcome...)

The credits below the caption indicate that this picture was shot in Dublin, where Stade Francais played against University of Dublin on February 2nd 1899 (and lost 0 - 9), but the picture was published later in an English newspaper a couple of days before playing against the famous Barbarians on February 15 (and an other defeat for the Froggies... 0 - 33)

As you can see, Dedet, Amand and three other gentlemen are wearing caps... According to internal rules edicted by the Stade Francais at the time, only players who had won at least two "Championnat de France" titles AND who had participated to an international victory were entitled to wear the cap... tough ! The rules were later softened (in 1906) so that a player could deserve the cap "just" by winning one "Championnat de France" OR two "Championnat de Paris"... no pain, no gain...

Well, if you have such a cap to sell... please drop me a mail... I need to replace this one...

In association with my friend Julien Codorniou, we are organizing a dinner in Paris next February 23rd to gather some rugby fans in the "blogosphere".

You all are welcome, please register by letting a comment below.

Time and venue will be decided later.

Confirmed guest (as of January 30) :

Pierre Salviac
Jeremy Moritz
Jacques Froissant
Rodrigo Sepulveda Schultz
Charles Liebert + Demoizelle
Alexandre Mottet

Having said that, a short comment on this colorfull rugby print dated 1881, issued by Boy's Own Magazine.

Maybe you will recognize it next time you pay me a visit at my office as it hangs on my wall...

Please also notice that both "football rugby" and "football association" players are portrayed on this print captionned "Famous English Football Players 1881", but that ruggers represent the vast majority of them... (actually all of them but two)

Another rugby print of Frantz Reichel from "“La Vie Au Grand Air"”, 1903.

I have done some homework to give you a more detailed bio of this eclectic sportsman.

Reichel (1871-1932) is first known as a rugger, captain of the Racing Club de France, then of the SCUF (until 1906), and founder of the "Federation Francaise de Rugby"” (French Rugby Union) in 1905. He was also an athlete, a boxer (founder of the "Federation Francaise de Boxe"” in 1903), a gymnast, a fencer and a pioneer of car and aviation...

He was a journalist at "Le Figaro" (founder of the sports column), l'Auto-Velo” , Le Sport Illustré..., then President of the AIPS - International association of the Sporting Press from 1924 to 1932.

Being the General Secretary of USFSA (Union des Sociétés Francaises de Sports Athletiques) before WW1, he was responsible for the overall organization of amateur sports in France, in a system ("Federations"” i.e. "“Unions" in the U.K.”) that still prevails today.

He was General Secretary of the executive organization committee of the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris - and he also sponsored the first winter Olympics in Chamonix. He took part to the creation of the French National Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF).

In France, French rugby championship for "- 18 years old" is named after him (since 1931) to celebrate his contribution to the game.

Key facts of his "sporting resume"” are :

- Rugby : Champion de France in 1892 and 1900 with the RCF.

- Rugby : received cap n°2 of newly formed Equipe de France, without taking part to this match against the All Blacks (similarly to Louis Dedet of Stade Francais, international cap n°3 who was the referee of that match !). Indeed, I do consider that Reichel and Dedet are the "godfathers" of rugby in France...

- Olympic Games : ran the 400m and the 110m hurdles in Athens (1896), rugby Olympic title in 1900 in Paris ;

- Cross-Country : French champion in 1890 and 1891

- 110m hurdles : French champion in 1891

- 1 km walking : French champion in 1893

- "One “hour"” recordman in 1892 (with 16 500 meters on June 20, then 16 611 meters on November 6)

- Aviation : recordman of the longest flight with two passengers on October 3, 1908, with American Wilbur Wright as pilot.

Another newspaper print from that 1893 French rugby tour in England, portraying Frantz Reichel of Racing Club de France, proud captain of that team !

Doesn't he look formidable ?

Reichel was a journalist and a true sportsman, from tracks & fields to rugby, from boxing to aviation, from fencing to gymnastic...

He also took managerial responsibilities in the Olympic organisation and in the organisation of sports in France.

I will give more informations in a next post...

To follow on my previous post, here is the first French team ever gathered to play an international rugby match, in England, after Stade Francais opened the road the previous year playing against Rosslyn Park of London.

It is not a real "Equipe de France" as all the guys come from Paris teams only (ie 9 from Stade Francais, 9 from Racing Club de France, plus 2 from minor clubs). The captain is Frantz Reichel, a great sportsman who was a founder and the captain of Racing Club de France (later he became Chairman of RCF and Secretaire General of the 1924 Olympics in Paris : he is the one who decided to build the "Stade de Colombes" to help the French Olympic Comitte which was running out of money....). Standing on his right is Louis Dedet, his "alter ego" of Stade Francais, who is portayed on my blog here and there. Sitting on Reichel's left is Henri Amand, who was on my blog... last Sunday pictured in 1906, 13 years later, for his last match, as captain of the first "real" Equipe de France against Gallaher & co... (almost the same jersey... all these gentlemen were very close from Coubertin and the Olympic organization...).

The Frenchies on tour played two games in February 1893 :
- 13 feb vs Civil Service RFC in London, lost one try to nil
- 14 feb vs Park House FC in Blackheath, lost four tries + two goals to one try

Credit to John "Ovalballs" for the print ! Thanks !

"Le Derby", "Il Classico"....

Stade Français (dark blue jerseys) and Racing Club de France fighting for the 1907 "Championnat de Paris", cover page of the weekly sports magazine "La Vie Au Grand Air", March 1907.

H-Cup this afternoon : 14-12 away victory for Stade Francais against Clermont... impressive defense from the Parisians !

This post is dedicated to my friend Cyrille, aka VinVin, who had such a hard night that he could no longer spell "Brennus" properly...

This is the cover page from La Vie Au Grand Air weekly magazine dated March 4th 1911, despicting an energetic player wearing SCUF colors as SCUF was enjoying its first title of "Champion de Paris" against rival Stade Francais (17 - 5).

The SCUF, formerly Sporting Club Amateurs, was founded in December 1895 by Charles Brennus. Brennus, an artist and a sporstman involved in the creation of the rugby league in France (see this previous post about the creation of USFSA, chaired by Pierre de Coubertin, where Brennus was treasurer), is famous to have designed the trophy named after him - Le Bouclier de Brennus (Brennus' shield) - which has been remitted every year to the French Champion since 1892 (even though we have to admit that the modern trophy is not the original one...). You will find a short bio (in French) and a pic of the Brennus' Shield here.

As a matter of keeping tradition alive, the Brennus' Shield is handed over every year to the winning captain by kids playing at the SCUF.

1911 was a good year for the SCUF as they also managed to reach the final of the French chamionship (but lost to Bordeaux).

Usually, I only blog about rugby before WWII, but I can certainly make an exception for the Equipe de France...

I have received this nice scan from Jeremie (a true rugger who blogs here , plays rugby there, even in video when playing in London...). Thank you, Jeremie !

The late 50s / early 60s were a golden age for French rugby. some wonderful players (G.Boniface, P.Albaladejo, M.Crauste, F.Moncla, A.Domenech.), 4 "V nations" tournaments in a row between 1959 and 1962, and possibly the beginning of some "fear" among neighbouring countries that from now on, France has to be seriously considered.

This print celebrates the 1961 tournament won by France (3 wins and 1 draw against England which is pictured here).

This illustrated try was scored by Michel Crauste, a famous 3rd row nicknamed "the Mongol" because of his moustaches (forgotten by the artist, shame !) and of his ferocious rugby ! You could find his stats here, and his bio - in French - there.

Edited Dec.4th : I have just realized that the artist is Paul Ordner, a famous advertising illustrator. I posted another rugby print from him last April (an add for Suze long drink, dated 1936).

A great match in Paris last Saturday where French team defeated South Africa 26 - 20. At the same time England enjoyed an easy win against Samoa 40 - 3.

But as both matches had shown some "signs of violence" (French captain Jerome Thion is out for at least 6 weeks... Lewis Moody of England and Tuilagi of Samoa being both sent off...), I find rather pleasant to show this nice print dated... November 1888, where Punch Magazine explains - with plenty of humour - that rugby game might evolve in a wrong direction...

A lot of text here under the title "Barbarians at play"...

First caption reads : John Bull "Play Football, by all means, my boy - but don't let it be this brutal sort of thing !"

Then starts a long, fake, report about the game which starts like this (and I have not copied eveything...) :

"A National Games ; or what it seems likely to be coming to.

Midland Yahoos v. North Country Savages

These two formidable and ferocious teams were both powerfully represented yesterday in the first match of the season that came off at the Subscription Grounds under the Thugby Associations Rules, when, owing to their well-knows deadly tactics, the afternoon's play was expected to be more that usually prolific in the fatalities and accidents now commonly considered inseparable from any well contested match, and the takings for gate-money were enormous.

The Stranglers had the kick off, and upon Smith, for the Home team, securing the ball, and making a very pretty run with it down the center, he encountered Jones, who, taking a well-timed and vigorous spring, mounted on his neck, when by a adroit twist, cracking his spine, he obliged him to relinquish it. The ball was then dribbled rapidly towards the Stranglers'goal, where a spirited scrimmage ensuing, Brown and Robinson, the half-backs, speedily had their thighs dislocated amidst a general breaking of arms and crackling of ribs."

Cool, isn't ?

Please also notice the name of the Home team... this leads me to say "hello" to all my friends at Yahoo !

Nice print (drawn by Ernest Prater) from The Sphere, March 16, 1901.

The 1901 Calcutta Cup, won by Scotland 18-3 (full report here)

Under title "A score for Scotland", caption reads "Twenty thousand people including Mr Balfour and his cousin, Lord
Hugh Cecil, went to Blackheath on Saturday to see the international Rugby match between Scotland and England. The team from Scotland was exceedingly strong and defeated England by three goals and a try to a try."