Stade Français v Rosslyn Park, 1892

This French rugby trade card was one of my very first eBay pruchase (actually, the second one... thank you Paul...) back in December 2002. This card comes with no details whatsoever, but I recently found out that the original black and white etching of this rugby scene was first published in French magazine L'Illustration to illustrate a famous match between Stade Français (of Paris) and Rosslyn Park (of London) held in Paris on April 18th, 1892.



Indeed, I should have recognized the colors (dark blue for Stade Français, Red and White stripes for Rosslyn Park). Even the French player who is about to tackle his opponent really looks like Louis Dedet - see below - , captain of the team and one one my favorite pioneers from that time (more about Louis Dedet here , here and there...)

This match is recorded to be the first international rugby match played in Europe (continental Europe, I mean...) ! It was set up thanks to the efforts of two English brothers (the Urwick bros.) : one was playing with Rosslyn Park while the other was a secretary of Stade Français.

The event gained a strong press coverage... a lot of "beautiful people" was there (Lord Dufferin, the English Ambassador in Paris, Pierre de Coubertin...). Stade Français lost 4 converted tries to nil, but this match really was a milestone in the rise of French rugby. As Dedet later explained "that day, we discovered how rugby must be played"... and the guys learned quickly, as two years later, in March 1894, near Paris again, Stade Français took a 9-8 revenge upon Rosslyn Park (thanks to a last minute try by Henri Amand) and became the first French team to defeat an English one... whatever sports is considered...

PS : some (partial) press coverage here (in French)

Technorati Tags: rugby, stade français, rosslyn park

Comments

[John]

Hi Frederic, had a interesting meeting with a member of the Rugby memorabilia society yesterday, Geoff Nagle (he will be contacting you) but what was the first international played by a French team reconised by the IRB?. Geoff is a big Rosslyn Park follower so will love your recent postings. Regards John

[Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com)]

Hi John,

We consider in France that our first international match was played against the All Blacks on January 1st 1906 (as the Blacks were travelling back home via France and then California). It will actually be celebrated next November when we will welcome the Blacks in Lyon and Paris for two test matches. There is no reason that IRB should consider that differently

There are some pictures of this match on my website (type "1906" in the search box in the left column)

First international caps were awarded that day, the first one to Henri Amand of Stade Français (his only one as he will retire the day after...), nbr 2 and 3 being "honorary caps" (n°2 = Frantz Reichel and n°3 = Louis Dedet). These gentlemen are portrayed several times on my website...

[Paul]

You're most welcome Frederic. After auctioning the card on ebay I actually bought another one just the same! Excellent 'spot' on the history of the card and match.

[Frederic (www.rugby-pioneers.com)]

Thank you Paul !