Tag: rugby

Blog, Uncategorized

Sovereign fairy tales: the President’s new clothes?

On the 12th February, two boys Augustin and Anatole had a sign confiscated on the way into the France vs Ireland Six Nations rugby match. Their father, a journalist, took to Twitter to express his disbelief, before the French Rugby Federation came good, reassuring them that the team’s captain had received the message of support. This was not a political message, they confirmed, and Antoine … Continue reading Sovereign fairy tales: the President’s new clothes?

Andrew W M Smith1 Comment
Uncategorized

Rugby, Wine and Socialism – New Find!

I’ve written before about how important Rugby, Wine and Socialism are in the South of France. I wrote an article in the journal National Identities, called ‘”Je suis socialiste et quinziste “: Rugby, Wine and Socialism in the Aude since 1976′ that said just that. Rugby has been almost as important to the Midi as its winegrowing, and the Languedoc has long been characterised as an historic … Continue reading Rugby, Wine and Socialism – New Find!

Andrew W M SmithLeave a comment
Uncategorized

Rugby and Heritage: Connections to the 1871 International

I’ve always liked my rugby. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever been that good at it mind. At school, I was – to put it charitably – an enthusiastic front row forward, shifting to flanker as others got bulkier. Nowadays, I’m confined to non-contact rugby by recurrent injuries. Yet there has always been an interest, for me, in the way in which rugby seems to … Continue reading Rugby and Heritage: Connections to the 1871 International

Andrew W M SmithLeave a comment