« July 2009 | Main | October 2009 »
Are we entering into a new phase of the Franco-British "Entente Cordiale" ?
This treaty signed in 1904 between France and United Kingdom (all details on Wikipedia here...) has something to do with the development of rugby in France. I'm not going to enter into details, but the tightening of political and diplomatical relationships between the two countries gave a strong canevas to foster invitations between French and British clubs, to welcome some British expat ruggers in French championship (yet ! - Harry Owen Roe in Bayonne, Percy Bush in Nantes etc... in Paris, Bordeaux...) and eventually to have France being invited to play against Home Nations - England first in 1906, Wales in 1908, Ireland in 1909 and finally Scotland in 1910 (*) -
Here are two documents celebrating the "Entente"... above is a postcard showing two soldiers playing rugby with the Kaiser's head (caption reads "une partie de football" - a football game ) and below is a full page print by Ernst Prater published in The Graphic in February 1911: The "Entente Cordiale" in The Football Field - England vs France at Twickenham - (larger print here where you could also read the caption)
Back to 2009, are we entering into a new phase of the Franco-British "Entente Cordiale" ?
I was initially fairly skeptic to witness the large number of British newcomers into French Top14 Championship as there are now 30 Brits and Scots in the French squads... but after two months competition, it seems that most of them have succesfully integrated into their respective teams either on the field or, more important, off the field to demonstrate that they are ruggers before being mercenaries... Yes, we do have videos of Wilko singing in a French pub... and, yes, we do have James Haskell undressing for next Stade Français 2010 calendar ("Dieux du Stade"... for sale on Stade's website) to illustrate that theory...
Ooops... a full week without posting any new story... 50% busy + 50% lazy = 100% sorry...
Say, I was sad to discover that my small archives were unable to illustrate the rugby highlights of the week... no pictures of the first New Zealand v Australia fixtures in 1903, 1905 and 1907 (large victories of the Kiwis... last Saturday and... 100 years ago) ... no pictures of old "black and red" Toulouse v Toulon games (yes, that French rugby... and, yes, Wilko rules...).
Instead, let me introduce this freaky little rugger who recently joined my home team : a plaster rugby statuette wearing French colours, by French artist E.Coffin (what a name...). This "big head" statuettes (rugby, tennis, boxing and other sports...) were designed to celebrate Paris Olympic Games in 1924 (video here). They were sold to visitors (and athletes ?) during the competition, and I've also spotted some of them in sports mail order catalogues. For hardcore collectors only !
But also a kind reminder that IOC will rule about the likely possible return of rugby at the Olympic Games next October 9...
I'm always surprised and pleased to discover artworks related to rugby. Last week, I spotted this fine "Retrato de un jugador de rugby" by Mexican artist Angel Zarraga (1886-1946), painted in Paris c1925.
Should I mention... this oil on canvas isn't mine... it was auctionned two years ago by Christie's in New York for a mere $157,000... (details here)
Angel Zarraga (portrait below - short bio here) left Mexico to travel around Europe aged 18, settled in Paris in 1911 - the center of the then art world - where along with Braque, Utrillo, Gris and Picasso, he was one of the founders of the School of Paris and became an important art figure and enjoyed commercial and critical success.
As Christie's explains "The artist's earliest experiments with a cubist language reveal his understanding of color and space but more importantly place him within the modernist's vanguard. Zárraga abandoned Cubism by the start of the 1920s for an expressionist language that is uniquely his but shares its roots with the works of Cézanne.
Retrato de un jugador de rugby, circa 1925, dates to a period in the artist's life when he became increasingly interested in athletic depictions--especially of football (soccer and rugby) players. Some of his most notable paintings within this theme are of players in action done in a cubist manner. However, his most iconic works on the sport are frontal portraits of female and male players which are captivating and lyrical character studies. This portrait focuses on a handsome young man--almost too young to play such a rough sport. The bold red stripes of his shirt contrast dramatically against the soft colors of the playing field and anchors him firmly to the ground. He epitomizes the eloquence of the sport--the almond-shaped ball is tenderly held up like a sacred object and he remains forever the image of the game."
I have no idea who could be that youg rugby player, but it's interesting to notice that Parisian rugby clubs had always welcomed Latin or South American athletes since the beginning of our championship back in 1892 (another story... another day... some hints here in that former story about Brazilian Paranhos at Stade Français)
BTW Google Images provides with other Zarraga's paintings, including this related work with football players (and Basque berets...)
A new rugby cap at home... fine but unusual colors... embroidery reads CRFC 1905-06...
Could someone help me identify what Cxxx Rugby Football Club stands for ?
Hint #1 : the cap was sold by Bowrings Arundel in London
Hint #2 : it's a pretty large cap... so could be either young or adult size (i.e. club or college...) (actually, not a real hint...)
There's a larger pic here @ Flickr.
David Dow, a Welsh rugby photographer who manages Dragon Tales Rugby in Swansea, is kindly sharing with us this picture of 1894-95 Swansea RFC 1st XV carefully restored and coloured from a damaged original photography.
As David explains: "Swansea RFC 1st XV 1894-95 [stands] in front of the old, old grandstand. The blue caps are Swansea caps and the red ones are Glamorgan caps for playing for the county side. Billy Bancroft's cap is probably an international one but the three feathers insignia has fallen off. Well, he had plenty of them! The hard part is not to over embellish the image and to get the white shirts the right 'off white' colour."
The picture belongs to Swansea RFC Archives (check their website to find tons of pictures...), as part of a remarkable initiative to collate, save and digitize the "All Whites" memorabilia (pictures, oral records, photographies of jerseys and caps) to ensure that all these treasures from the past will remain available for future generations. Let's hope (errr ???) that all major rugby clubs or unions do share the same philosophy...
I understand that St Helens clubhouse is a true rugby museum...
This picture is available to download here (1024 pix) or there (A3 king size pic)
Warm thanks to David and Swansea RFC !
And not to mention... all contributions are welcome here !
Recent Comments