Incredible opposition !
Two of the most antagonist political regimes of pre-ww2 Europe, Italy and Spain, using the same print to promote rugby... !
Left is the original print, by Italian artist Mancioli. This postcard, published by Italian Rugby Union - FIR - in the 30s is complemented by a quote from Archille Starace, a leader of Mussolinian Fascist Party and president of the Italian Olympic Committee - CONI - who states: "il giuoco del rugby, sport da combattimento, deve essere praticato e largamente diffuso tra la gioventu fascita" (the game of rugby, combat sport, must be praticed and widely spread among fascist youth").
Right is a Spanish - sorry, Catalan... - print announcing a fixture between a French team "Seleccio Francesa" and a Catalan team "Seleccio Catalana" in Barcelona, on April 14th, 1936 as part of "Festes de la Republica" (Day of the Republic) under Popular Front government, a couple of months before the civil war broke out in July 1936... the Catalan player was in black...
Striking !
Larger picture available @ Flickr : Italian / Catalan ...
Credit to Serge and Françoise Laget "L'affiche de sport dans le monde" for the Catalan print. Serge, do you still read this blog ?
Edited Sept. 28 : Paco (from Italy - cf his comment below) has spotted that this print from Mancioli is on the home page of Iran Rugby Union website, www.iranrugby.com ... can't believe it !!
Two of the most antagonist political regimes of pre-ww2 Europe, Italy and Spain, using the same print to promote rugby... !
Left is the original print, by Italian artist Mancioli. This postcard, published by Italian Rugby Union - FIR - in the 30s is complemented by a quote from Archille Starace, a leader of Mussolinian Fascist Party and president of the Italian Olympic Committee - CONI - who states: "il giuoco del rugby, sport da combattimento, deve essere praticato e largamente diffuso tra la gioventu fascita" (the game of rugby, combat sport, must be praticed and widely spread among fascist youth").
Right is a Spanish - sorry, Catalan... - print announcing a fixture between a French team "Seleccio Francesa" and a Catalan team "Seleccio Catalana" in Barcelona, on April 14th, 1936 as part of "Festes de la Republica" (Day of the Republic) under Popular Front government, a couple of months before the civil war broke out in July 1936... the Catalan player was in black...
Striking !
Larger picture available @ Flickr : Italian / Catalan ...
Credit to Serge and Françoise Laget "L'affiche de sport dans le monde" for the Catalan print. Serge, do you still read this blog ?
Edited Sept. 28 : Paco (from Italy - cf his comment below) has spotted that this print from Mancioli is on the home page of Iran Rugby Union website, www.iranrugby.com ... can't believe it !!
