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Top 14 & Rugby Pro D2
Toulon... wtf
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<blockquote data-quote="gaston le gaff" data-source="post: 650095" data-attributes="member: 61265"><p>In France you can start as early as 4/5 years old, we have at Montpellier the mini poussins who are around that age... Schools do not play vast amounts of rugby but it does happens, young school kids have to be part of an official affiliated FFR club as you need assurance and a license to play rugby in France what ever age you are.</p><p>In the clubs everything is well structured the biggger the club the better the structure normally, eg at Montpellier where i am a club official, we have just over a 1,000 license holders in all cats. including 3 female teams 2 of which were French Champions this season.</p><p>Normally you stay with your club throughout the school years, if you make the grade you can enter the clubs academy and carry on what is normally know as sports etudes which is similar to UNI, but with rugby as a plus.Trinh- Duc and Ouedraogo both joined Montpellier around 12 years old and are still playing for them.</p><p>The big difference i found having played in both countries is the social standings are completely different. In the UK its grammar or public schools who play the sport, then UNI and club rugby, in France every village has its rugby club more or less and the pitches are always in hearing distance of the village church bells. The players come from all walks of life, the team i played for before the pro era, had Gendarmes, Dustbin men Doctors Builders, teachers company directors etc etc a real mish mash of social standings, not at all clicky like some UK clubs were in the past. The social side used to be around the weekend and everyone was always invited whatever their social standing was.</p><p>The progression is much easy in France if you make the grade as you are already in the club and of course coaches talk and as you move up the different age levels, you are contacted by county reps who put your name forward and of couse you can finish up International like the 2 mentioned above. I found playing in France was far more enjoyable than the UK but a hell of a lot tougher, i've played in Stade Mayol and that is tough....every game was a battle and fighting was almost, the most important then the rugby, but things have changed since those glorious years!!!!</p><p>I do know Millfield and Colstans as i have met Andy Robinson on occaisons so i am aware of those kind of set ups but they are for the elite more than for anybody and everybody, this is why i think the French systems are good as anyone can play rugby even if they are not academically successful, eg Blaco was an electrician in a factory before he was discovered. (one of many).</p><p>This is my insight into the French rugby system it is not gospel and it is my experiences but i have been in the system for a long number of years and will be starting my 9th season with Montpellier very shortly, i also did the 2007 W Cup as a anti drug controller.......... Hope this gives you some sort of idea how it works over here.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gaston le gaff, post: 650095, member: 61265"] In France you can start as early as 4/5 years old, we have at Montpellier the mini poussins who are around that age... Schools do not play vast amounts of rugby but it does happens, young school kids have to be part of an official affiliated FFR club as you need assurance and a license to play rugby in France what ever age you are. In the clubs everything is well structured the biggger the club the better the structure normally, eg at Montpellier where i am a club official, we have just over a 1,000 license holders in all cats. including 3 female teams 2 of which were French Champions this season. Normally you stay with your club throughout the school years, if you make the grade you can enter the clubs academy and carry on what is normally know as sports etudes which is similar to UNI, but with rugby as a plus.Trinh- Duc and Ouedraogo both joined Montpellier around 12 years old and are still playing for them. The big difference i found having played in both countries is the social standings are completely different. In the UK its grammar or public schools who play the sport, then UNI and club rugby, in France every village has its rugby club more or less and the pitches are always in hearing distance of the village church bells. The players come from all walks of life, the team i played for before the pro era, had Gendarmes, Dustbin men Doctors Builders, teachers company directors etc etc a real mish mash of social standings, not at all clicky like some UK clubs were in the past. The social side used to be around the weekend and everyone was always invited whatever their social standing was. The progression is much easy in France if you make the grade as you are already in the club and of course coaches talk and as you move up the different age levels, you are contacted by county reps who put your name forward and of couse you can finish up International like the 2 mentioned above. I found playing in France was far more enjoyable than the UK but a hell of a lot tougher, i've played in Stade Mayol and that is tough....every game was a battle and fighting was almost, the most important then the rugby, but things have changed since those glorious years!!!! I do know Millfield and Colstans as i have met Andy Robinson on occaisons so i am aware of those kind of set ups but they are for the elite more than for anybody and everybody, this is why i think the French systems are good as anyone can play rugby even if they are not academically successful, eg Blaco was an electrician in a factory before he was discovered. (one of many). This is my insight into the French rugby system it is not gospel and it is my experiences but i have been in the system for a long number of years and will be starting my 9th season with Montpellier very shortly, i also did the 2007 W Cup as a anti drug controller.......... Hope this gives you some sort of idea how it works over here. [/QUOTE]
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