The revival of the "Entente Cordiale"

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...

Hence a new proposal ! let's build a Franco-British team to tour into Southern hemisphere... ;-)

(*) indeed, French rugby will celebrate next year the centenary of our debut in the 5 then 6 Nations Tournament... we'll discuss that later

Comments

[Naly D]

You know what, that's actually not a bad idea!