Well i have read and what an gutless act of cowards professional please the upper class snobs caused the drama, they where rife with payments, league was the middle class working class game that even to this day is still semi pro. Rugby union can thank there lucky stars that the country was invaded, otherwise the game would be dead no doubt, dispite this league still fights on in france. The 300, 000 francs in today conversion are we talking 2 to 3 million at least.
Even as we speak league is contining to fight back, new clubs are poping up every few months as we speak now league is near enough to the 100 clubs again. The cote basque xiii club seemed very strong prior to the act of cowards, however many strong rugby union clubs of today also switched back namely agen and brieve. The interesting thing was that the aude region was a particular union stronghold prior to 1934 as was villenvue, carcarsonne and pernignan. Also regional cities such as Albi and Avignon have had a strong love of league since it's inception.
The disappearance of game in big cities is the drama, we know in toulouse the game has a deep history and still has very good support, in the short term would love to see lyon and albi rejoin the elite this could certainly be possible in the short term. The disapperance of bordeaux is sad given the crowds th city once attracted.
Crowds where superb most teams around the 4000 average with lyon getting double that to most games.
I read with interest the summer regional comp run by jacques foroux in 1995 from a few reports in have read this concept was quite successful would this be worth an idea again?
The domestic game seems to going well worth an idea.
I have no doubt now given the importance Pernignan has on france in rugby on both sides of the divide, that this city always shoud have been france superleague entry. The one complaint i do have is why there was more depth on the golden era of the 50's and 60's.
Where to now? i have no doubt after reading this that in the long term france must have there own pro league but when who knows but simply put this is the only way to get engrained but on french culture.
Maybe a summer elite may work with Toulouse, FCL, limoux, ASC, Avignon, Carpantras, Lyon, Albi, Catalans/St. Esteve and have a play off system vs the best championship teams.
