The "Web Ellis Cup" is in Paris !

I was invited last night by Societe Generale (one the main sponsors of French rugby) to a party where French coach Bernard Laporte was presenting the 2007 Rugby World Cup trophy... I wish it could stay in France untill 2011 (ok.. I know.... there's a looong way to get there...)

During next World Cup, i.e. in September and November 2007 for the newbies..., Societe Generale (Agence Centrale - Boulevard Haussmann in Paris) will host a exhibition dedicated to the rugby in Paris before ww1, to which I will contribute with prints, postcards, newspapers etc...  usually displayed here at "rugby-pioneers.com". The exhibition will be open to public and I hope to meet you there - especially those of you who will travel from abroad for the World Cup ! Exiting project, indeed ! stay tuned...

I also had the opportunity of a quick chat with Bernard Laporte about rugby memorabilia, and eventually found out an answer to a long lasting question... No, Bernard Laporte and Pascal Laporte do not belong to the same family, even though both of them used to play in Bordeaux... !



Pascal Laporte (here posing for French magazine La Vie Au Grand Air in 1900) was captaining Stade Bordelais at the turn of the XXth century. Between 1899 and 1911, the Stade Bordelais stroke 7 champion titles and lost 5 finals (4 of them lost to the Stade Francais...).... fairly impressive : over this period, they reached the final every year except 1903 (when Stade Francais won to Toulouse....).


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