Sarko to axe the Franco-German engine? | 91 comments (91 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Off topic, On topic... (none / 1)

Reading a young anti-nazi resistant's last letter to the French rugby team before a match is beyond bad taste.

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Tue Sep 11th, 2007 at 05:47:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And would be more appropriate ... (4.00 / 2)

... before a Rugby 13 match than a Rugby 15 match, given the way that Rugby 15 took advantage of the war to take over Rugby 13 facilities (given the more working class, especially coal miner, background of Rugby 13 and hence suspect loyalties of Rugby 13).

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Tue Sep 11th, 2007 at 08:24:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: And would be more appropriate ... (none / 1)

I didn't know about this. Do you mean in France? Can you say more about it, point to some sources?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 at 02:13:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: And would be more appropriate ... (4.00 / 3)

Here you go afew...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2307043.stm

and from wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_league_in_France

Money is a sign of Poverty - Culture Saying

by RogueTrooper on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 at 04:01:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: And would be more appropriate ... (none / 1)

Thanks. I knew Union and League were not good friends (euphemism), but I had never come across that Vichy link.

The odd thing to me, living in French rugbyland, is that it's distinctly working-class/plain folks whether it's 13 or 15. Much less social difference than between Union and League in Britain, certainly.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 at 05:35:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: And would be more appropriate ... (none / 1)

I reckon the social distinction in England was originally in the players ... amateur status was always less appealing to a coal miner or mill worker.

I had thought the social distinction in the stands for Rugby Union football evolved more with respect to Association football ... as in the old aphorism that (association) Football is a game watched by thugs and played by gentlemen, and Rugby Union is the opposite.

Mind you, Australia inherited the class distinctions between the two Rugby codes of football, with Rugby Union better supported in the big end of town and Rugby League better supported in the little end of town ... at least in Sydney and Brisbane.

OTOH, the class distinction in Australian Rules, in the "southern half" of the country, is more in terms of where you are sitting in the stands, like the NFL in the US.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Wed Sep 12th, 2007 at 10:35:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Sarko to axe the Franco-German engine? | 91 comments (91 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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