Rugby League began in France in 1933 against huge odds-the established and fanatical support for Rugby Union.

In the first ever Rugby League game played in France, at the Pershing de Paris Stadium, Australia beat England 63-13 before 20,000 quizzical fans.

In 1935 France beat Wales 18-11 to record their first win in international football but then trouble brewed.

On 19 December 1941 the French Government banned Rugby League as a sport.

Once the ban was lifted, Rugby League blossomed in France to such a level that the 1951 French side is today, rated the best international team-EVER.

After the side demoralised Australia in 1951, they returned, by boat, to Marseilles and over 100,000 adoring fans.

The French sporting “bible”-L’Equipe, said of 1951 fullback Puig Aubert: “Aubert is the champion of all champions.”

Aubert, with his unconventional goal-kicking style and his penchant for the unexpected, was a favourite with Australian fans.

In 1978 France beat Australia twice. At the wall city of Carcassonne, France won 13-10 and at Toulouse, France won 11-10.

They were heady days but the champagne has since gone a little flat due to the vast amount of francs available to Rugby Union players.

There are today 25,000 registered Rugby League players in France.

The main competition is called Elite 1 and is played between May and October. The Lord Derby Cup is an extremely popular event, comprising teams from every division.

There are 120 clubs in France and each has its own ground.

Over 60 schools play League with over 1,800 boys competing.

Darren Lockyer believes the standard of French Rugby League has improved beyond belief and tips them to be competitive in the 2008 World Cup.

The “gun” players are the captain Jerome Guissert, Maxime Gresque and Julien Ronaldi.

Perhaps the French will produce another Aubert, or another Merquey or Brousse.

Federation Francaise de Rugby a XIII
30 Rue de L'Echiquier
75010 Paris, France

Telephone: +33 1 4800 9256 Fax: +633 1 4800 0702 Email: ffrxiii@wanadoo.fr Web: http://www.ffr13.com/

Foundation Year: 1934 Affiliated Since: 1948 RLIF Status: Test Nation