Rugby Union can be described as the 2nd most popular ‘team sport’ in France. The first place is, of course, occupied by football. Rugby Union is, in actual sense, one of the dominant sports in majority of southern part of France. Its origin can be traced to the year 1870, when certain British residents used to play it. Privileged French clubs go ahead with participation in professional domestic club league, i.e. Top 14. These clubs also take an active part in knock-out competition of Europe, i.e. Heineken Cup.
National Side goes on with competing annually in Six Nations Championship. It was last held in the year 2007. Rugby World Cup has always witnessed the participation of France since the inception of it in the year 1987. Moreover, it has also been the runner-ups on 2 occasions. Many of you might be aware o the fact that Rugby World Cup of the year 2007 was hosted by France.
Governing Body
FFR, i.e. Federation Francaise de Rugby is the body carrying out the governance of rugby union in France. They hold the responsibility of governing rugby union here inclusive of Ligue Nationale de Rugby and French national team. This body had been formed in the year 1919. In the year 1934, FFR set up Federation Internationale de Rugby Amateur, i.e. FIRA, in the attempt of organizing rugby union out of authority of International Rugby Board. It was inclusive of national teams pertaining to Germany, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Catalonia, France, and Italy.
In the year 1978, FFR went on to obtain the membership of International Rugby Football Board, which is now known as IRB. In the year 1995, yes, the year in which rugby attained the status of a sport of professional acclaim; FIRA recognized IRB as being the governing authority for sport worldwide and got itself turned in to an exceptionally governing body on the European level. With effect to this transition, FIRA had its name changed to Association Europeenne de Rugby, i.e. FIRA-AER in the year 1999.
Popularity
There’re up to 1720 clubs and around 2 lakh registered players of rugby union in France. The last few years have seen a tremendous growth in terms of domestic competition. This is evident from the fact that attendance has risen by around 25% from the years 2004-05, along with numerous sellouts. 15th of October, 2005, crowd of around 79502 was drawn by Paris club Stade Francais at Stade de France against Toulouse for one of the home games. The above-mentioned match broke previous record of French attendance for regular-season league matches, that too, in any of the sports (inclusive of football). Off late, on 27th of January, 2007, around 79741 people were drawn towards Stade Francais, against Toulouse.
Competitions
National
The main ‘National Club’ competition here is Top 14. It’s played on away and home basis between top 14 club sides. The year 1892 marked the beginning of the 1st championship. Racing Club had won it. The champions at present are ‘Stade Francais’.
Popularity: 6% [?]
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