This is the third part of a series about French rugby league.
The first part looked at the current state of the game and its prospects.
The second part went back to the beginning and the meteoric rise of French rugby league in the 1930s.
Today, we look at the glory years of the 1950s and the results of nearly a generation of the game’s development in France.
It’s the story of the two kings of French rugby league. The legacy of the great Jean Galia and the rich harvest of Puig ‘Pipette’ Aubert.
Galia is rightly recognised as one of the pioneers of international rugby league, alongside James Lomas of England, Dally Messenger of Australia and Albert Baskerville of New Zealand.
The four are immortalised on the Courtney Goodwill Trophy, the unofficial World Cup before the official tournament was established in 1954.
Galia was a remarkable man. He was a rugby union international and an amateur heavyweight boxing champion. He was not only France’s first captain, but also the driving force behind French rugby league’s establishment; an organiser of dissidents and a student of his adopted game.
He was a successful businessman, the owner of a chain of cinemas in south west France. While it’s not clear if he fought with the French resistance during the war, as some of his rugby league team mates did, he certainly assisted French Jews fleeing the Nazis.
Galia passed away in 1949 at the age of just 43, two years before the great triumph of 1951.
France had found a new trailblazer, though. Puig Aubert, the man who would take them to the top.
Contemporary accounts of Aubert depict something like a hybrid of Eric Simms and Tom Trbojevic, a prolific point scorer and freakish athlete who could turn a laconic stroll into explosive brilliance in the blink of an eye.
Even before France’s famous series victory over the Kangaroos in 1951, Aubert was regarded as arguably the best player in the world and at least the equal of Australia’s little master, Clive Churchill.
By the time France had completed its series victory and attained the Courtney Goodwill Trophy for the first time, with a resounding 35-14 victory over the Kangaroos at the Sydney Cricket Ground, commentators were gushing.
Aubert’s men were lauded by rugby league News as “standard-bearers” and “the most spectacular rugby league team ever to visit Australia.”
On their return to France, the players were greeted by a crowd of thousands in Marseille. Aubert had reportedly been offered significant money to play in Sydney and was later voted France’s sportsman of the year.
It wasn’t just the series victory, the Goodwill and the accolades that made this a triumph. It was the way they did it.
France had deliberately eschewed the methodical ruthlessness of the Australians and the conservatism of the English to forge their own style. A style based on attacking, unstructured play and risky passing.
It was a style that continued to work. France beat Australia at home in the 1952-53 Test series and again at the 1954 World Cup, before being narrowly denied by Great Britain in the inaugural World Cup Final at Paris.
The 1955 Test series win in Australia was in some ways even more impressive than the victory in 1951. France was without the injured Aubert. They lost the first Test of the series to Australia at Sydney and found themselves 12 points down in the second Test at Brisbane, before rallying to win 29-28 and then clinch the series at Sydney three weeks later.
Looking back more than six decades later, this is all tinged with sadness.
The seeds of France’s success in the 1950’s had been planted by Jean Galia and Co. during the boom years of the 1930s.
The seeds of France’s inexorable decline were planted during the darkness of World War II.
A new generation capable of taking on the world like the great team of Aubert never emerged. Money, assets, players, supporters and sponsors were lost, some forever.
Former French rugby League player Puig-Aubert poses in front of a large print showing him playing against Australia in 1951 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)
There are those who’ll tell you that French rugby league should have picked itself up, dusted itself off and built again. They’re right, of course. But it’s not always that simple.
I know some people who’ve been through difficult times and have bounced back.
I knew a man who lost almost everything. He remained a good man until his final day. But something of his spirit and resilience had been lost forever.
*Source material:
Rylance, M (2012), The Forbidden Game: The untold story of French rugby league, League Publications Ltd
Rugby League News (1951), via National Library of Australia, editions of 2 June, 21 July and 15 August
Rugby League News (1955), via National Library of Australia, edition of 23 July.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Well, glad you finally came around, although not before being put straight by Ty and not before an insult. Funny I had nothing to say yet you kept responding!
Nat
Roar Guru
Like it? I'm laughing my A off at you. I would have thought you could prove me wrong straight away but you just repeat the same thing. You've made my morning! :laughing: :laughing: Please say the same thing a 4th time. Try tapping your heels together it might come true! :laughing: :laughing: :thumbup:
Ty May
Guest
You don't like that fact do you Nat.. your fledgling little suburban kick and giggle gets dwarfed by a single athlete in another sport you absolutely hate. Music to my ears
Nat
Roar Guru
Really? Feel free to put some numbers on it champ.
Ty May
Guest
He earns more than RL in the whole world.. 2.5 countries and it really bothers you Nat. There is no money in Rugby League hence why it's a continual struggle and it can't grow
Nat
Roar Guru
Are you still going? FMD. Little tip for future research, the NFL, NRL, SR AU, AFL, NBA, MLS - whatever, are domestic codes. American Football, Rugby League, Union, Basketball, Football are the sports. They are all played at competitive international level. Your opinion on whether these comps have enough international presence or money is completely irrelevant. These articles have just outlined a history of the game in France dating back 100yrs up to a Super League GF appearance and test match with England a few weeks back. You, being such a miserable P have nothing better to do than belittle. You got nothing to say and you should keep it that way.
Nat
Roar Guru
Wrong thread champ. Messi certainly does earn more than one rugby code in Aust but its not league. You know it’s only a burn when it’s a fact otherwise you come off quite the DA – as you’ve done here. Next time though little buddy ok. :thumbup:
Ty May
Guest
Messi earns more than all RL comps in the world.. well that's 2 comps hahaha
deucer
Roar Rookie
I think the truth lies somewhere in between. Due to the global reach of the US, any of their cultural touchstones will have an international presence, although I think Nat is pushing it a bit as the extent of this.
deucer
Roar Rookie
Hi In Brief, I did post this in reply to a previous article about the French, which puts a different spin on it. Interesting article all the same. I suggest you read the publication ‘unlucky 13 – amateurism as a weapon of war in Vichy France’ by Melissa McMahon The conclusion was: The Vichy ban on rugby league was revoked along with all other legislation under what was declared an illegitimate govt. with the liberation and the sport enjoyed great success and popularity in the decade following the war, possibly bolstered by it’s status as the anti Vichy sport in a country keen to distance itself from that period. It conducted a triumphant tour of Aust and NZ in 1951 and led the initiative to hold the first RLWC in 1954′
clipper
Roar Rookie
My point is that AFL doesn't claim to be international - much like NFL it's main function is the domestic competition - NFL has the highest attendance average, AFL the 4th highest - both do so well domestically, they don't have to worry about the international game, albeit many countries play both, but no country would have a hope of beating the home country at either sport.
Nat
Roar Guru
No you don't. Can't make a point either but you argue anyway.
clipper
Roar Rookie
There's 49 registered AFL clubs in England and 20 in NZ so I don't really get your point. Just about every sport now has many clubs in many countries.
Nat
Roar Guru
No, there is a European comp as well and they earn as much as a union player here in Aust. There is 65 registered American football clubs in Aust. Besides, the money doesn't have to match NFL to be professional, it only has to be their primary source of income. By that standard Australia doesn't play soccer because Messi earns more than the entire A League comp generates.
clipper
Roar Rookie
Well, I stand corrected - Mexico and Canada have professional comps, therefore putting NFL on the same level as league with 3 countries with professional comps, although the pay isn't much. Still think an the international moniker is still a long way off, can't see either of those countries ever getting close to the US.
Nat
Roar Guru
You cite one paragraph from Wikipedia and want me to do your research? :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
clipper
Roar Rookie
Did you read that they couldn't get sponsorship in 2015? Doesn't sound like a big international event to me. How many teams, outside of the US are professional? How many professional tournaments do they have outside the US? Just about every sport has an international tournament - even boot throwing!
Nat
Roar Guru
Baaa hahahahahaha. No, you didn't know about this. You finally found google when it was thrown in your face. What's worse you only read the first Wiki paragraph. You have no idea and only reinforce the point with every post.
clipper
Roar Rookie
I do know about this - it's like the 'international cup' for AFL, where the US didn't even compete until 2007 and have won everything since that. The had to cancel 2015 in Sweden due to lack of sponsorship. Don't think it's a good indicator of a strong international competition.
bazza200
Guest
South of france is winter in the offseason still a nice place though :)