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Rugby league in France
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Rugby league has been played in France since the 1930s. As with rugby union, the heartland of the game is the south of the country.
History
Rugby football was introduced into France by the British in the early 1870s. It quickly began to flourish in the poorer, more rural south. The French rugby clubs remained in affiliation with the English Rugby Football Union and IRB when rugby split in 1895. By the 1930s the rugby union authorities concluded that the French Rugby Union was breaching amateur regulations, and they were suspended from playing against the other nations. Looking round for an alternative, many French players turned to rugby league, which soon became a popular game in France, particularly in the south west of the country.
On 6 April 1934 the French Rugby League was born with the constitution of the Ligue Française de Rugby à XIII (i.e. the French RL Federation). On 12 January 1938 the Ligue Française de Rugby à XIIIe de Rugby à XIII was given official recognition by the government of Prime Minister Camille Chautemps, himself a former rugby union player of Stade Français. The Prime Minister took the decision rather than the Minister for Sports, Léo Lagrange, who was not in favour of such a decision as he was against professional sports and their development. Two days later, for other reasons, the government resigned.
The LFR.13's governmental recognition remained valid until October 1940 and returned in full force from September 1944 till the present time (even though the sport was forced to change its name from "Rugby of 13" to "Game of 13". This lasted for 42 years 2 months 2 days when the game was once more known as Rugby à XIII). Rugby league became wrongly associated with socialist politics in France whereas rugby union remained the game of the establishment.
By 1939, there had been a marked growth in rugby league at the expense of rugby union. The French Rugby Union noted the decline, "Tandis que la Ligue triomphait, la FRR dans son congrès de Marseille, le 24 juin 1939, constatait que ses effectifs avaient fondu comme neige au soleil. Ses clubs n'étaient plus que 558; on en comptait 784 en 1930 et 663 en 1934.
Que serait-il advenu du rugby à XV de ce côté de la Manche sans la seconde guerre mondiale? Il peut sembler paradoxal que la guerre d'abord, l'occupation ensuite, aient sauvé la FRR." (While rugby league football was triumphant, The FRR(French rugby union) during its conference in Marseille on the 24th June 1939 observed that its playing numbers were in decline(like melting snow). Its(FRR) club number was now only 558; Its club number was 784 in 1930 and 663 in 1934. What may have occurred to rugby union on this side of the Channel without World War II? It paradoxially may be considered that the German invasion, and than the occupation, saved the FRR."; (Note: the said figures are given by the Historian of the French RL: Louis Bonnery but a Catalan journalist wrongly gives 471 in 1934).
Vichy banningThe defeat of France in the Second World War had serious implications for rugby league. On 15th October 1940 the French RL Federation instructed its clubs to play rugby union as rugby league was banned. Only under 18 players were exempt, and only for one more year. On 29th December 1941 by a decree of the Vichy regime rugby league was banned after a demand by Berlin. Numerous players, clubs and officials switched to rugby union.
Between the end of 1940 and the middle of 1942, at least six other French Amateur Sport Federations were also banned and destroyed by the Vichy regime, this in relation with the sport policy of the Vichy Regime and of its Révolution nationale. A BBC reporter explained it thus: "This year (2002) a French government inquiry found that "influential officials in the French Rugby Federation endeavoured to eliminate the competitor, which they claimed was a deviant form of rugby union.""
Rugby league was a working and middle-class sport in France and has been wrongly associated with the pre-war socialist government whereas union had connections to conservative right-wing organisations. The ban was to do with the Germans and Vichy suppressing any opposition to their occupation, the ban was also with the promotion, the unavowable obligation of the amateurism in the French sports like Baron P. de Coubertin or socialists of the Front populaire wanted.
"They just came to the club. I was there training in the Under-13s. They told us we had to stop playing rugby 13. They took our kit, and even the balls" - 1942, Unknown
At the end of September 1944 the Ligue Française de Rugby à XIII was re-established but would struggle to bring French rugby league back to the levels of popularity it had enjoyed before the war.
The consequences of the Vichy Regime's ban reverberate to this day. Assets of between 2 to 4 million French Francs of 1941 were seized (equivalent to 0.60 to 1.21 million Euros in 2006). These were never returned but as compensation, the French Republic has given rugby league "Sport de Haut Niveau" status (despite the fact FRL doesn't comply with all laws and regulations for this statute [1]).
Consequently with the said status, the French Rugby League receives from the Republic around 1.5 million French Francs (€ 0.23 mio) a year since 1972 in annual subsidies rising to 3,759 million (€ 0.57 mio) in 2004 as well as rugby league educational facilities in Carcassonne (since 1981), Toulouse (since 1991) and Salon de Provence (since 2006) and also 6 to 12 development officers (11 in 2007). Note: the rugby league educational facilities given by French Republic were also with the French armies in Fontainebleau (Bataillon de Joinville: 1955 to 1962, 1985 to 2001), in Toulouse Francazal (Air base 101: 1991 to 2001)
Post War to the PresentAlthough the ban on rugby league was lifted, it was prevented from using the word rugby in its title from 24 April 1949 until 26 June 1991, having to use the name Jeu à Treize (Game of Thirteen, in reference to the number of players in a rugby league side).
By a gentlemen's agreement, LFR XIII / French Republic / FFR XV of 10 July 1947, the French Republic also gave to the FFJ XIII (as from 24 April 1949 the official new name of the LFR XIII) the authorisation and recommendation of creating another association (NGO law 1901) i.e. "Ligue de Rugby à XIII" for the conducting and the controlling of the semi-professional/professional activity (i.e. the Rugby League National division) and to register the "Ligue de Rugby à XIII" with the French National Committee of Sports. Unfortunately the LFR XIII and afterwards the FFJ XIII didn't create the association "Ligue of Rugby à XIII"; they preferred to conduct and to control the National division via an internal commission in the federation (LFR XIII, FFJ XIII after).
After the war the French game was re-established and the French became one of rugby league’s major powers. The first Rugby League World Cup was held in France in 1954 in order to raise funds. France played major international series against Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The 1951 and 1955 French tours of Australia are still regarded as two of the strongest sides ever to tour Australia.
However the game has since declined in France. Over the years some players have defected to play rugby union, which has overshadowed rugby league since the war; but from 1934 to 1972 the rugby union players who defected to play rugby league were very numerous: Desclaux, Dauger, Dop, Puig-Aubert, Merquey, Jimenez, Mantoulan, Capdouze, P. Lacaze, Blain, Bonnal, Ruiz, Aillères, Marracq, Marsolan, Barthe, Quaglio, Biffi, Zacariotto, Rebujent, Mas, Sauret, Erramouspé.
In Feb. 1996, a French team, Paris Saint Germain was formed to take part in the otherwise English Super League (Europe). The players being drawn from the French League. It was abandoned in October 1997, partly because Paris was not in the southern heartland of French rugby league and partly because the players had the double burden of playing for both Paris and their original club.
In 1998, X111 Actif were formed under the Chairmanship of French rugby league historian Robert Fassolette, to put pressure on the French Government over the Vichy banning of the sport. The French Minister of Sport commissioned an enquiry, which found in favour of XII Actif. The Court then ruled that only the French rugby league federation could take up case further. This they declined to do.
In 2005, during a scheduled game between France and Australia, the local Rugby Union forced the rescheduling of the match to a less convenient time.
Governing bodySince 26 June 1991 the governing body for rugby league in France has been the Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII (i.e. formerly Ligue Française de Rugby à XIII then, Fédération Française de Jeu à XIII). The Federation is a founding member of and a full member of the Rugby League International Federation (i.e. IRLB Jan. 1948) and of the Rugby League European Federation (i.e. May 2003).
CompetitionsThe French Rugby League Championship has been the major rugby league tournament for semi-professional clubs in France since the sport was introduced to the country in the thirties. The championship is divided into several divisions; the top league being Elite One Championship, below that is the Elite Two Championship. There are several lower and regional divisions below them. The premier knock-out cup is the Lord Derby Cup.
Each year 4 French teams take part in the Challenge Cup, and since February 2006 the Perpignan based club formerly known as UTC (Union Treiziste Catalan), now known as Catalans Dragons, play in Super League. Other French clubs such as Toulouse may follow.
PopularityIn 2002, it was estimated that rugby league had around 10,000 regular players in France, compared to around 215,000 for rugby union. The game struggles for attention in the national media, but it is covered by local outlets in the south. However the introduction of Catalans Dragons into Super League has seen substantial with articles appearing in national newspapers such as L'Équipe, Libération and Le Figaro during 2006.
The National Team- See also New Caledonia national rugby league team
The French national rugby league team are often nicknamed les Chanteclairs, after the cockerel which is the emblem of the team, or as les Tricolores. They have competed in every World Cup and European Nations Cup, as well as playing in other tournaments such the Victory Cup.
It was announced that from 2009, France would enter into the current Tri-Nations setup involving Australia, New Zealand, and Great Britain. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into the Super League, and recent strong outings from the international side led to this decision. This should benefit the rugby league world as a whole.
The French territory of New Caledonia has had its own rugby league team since 2003, which is run by the Fédération Francaise de Rugby à Treize.
MediaTelevisionSport+ show every Catalan Dragons home match live as well as live or delayed coverage of Catalans away matches that are broadcast live on Sky in the UK.
RadioRadio Marseillette has rugby league debate and news every Saturday from 10:00 to 12:00. They also have exclusive live commentary of all Catalans Dragons home matches and also have commentary on some Elite League games.
Radio France Bleu Roussillon carries commentary on every Catalans Dragons away match played in the UK.
See also
External links-
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- Le Rugby à XIII le plus Français du monde (500 pages) by Louis Bonnery (former National Technical Director -1978 to 2000- of the French RL and international RL player)
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