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
A warmful thanks to John "Ovalballs" who offered me the print !
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