"AGAINST INSTRUCTIONS AND DANGEROUS"
6 October 1972. A letter from the upper echelons of the state beat down the enthusiasm. Colonel Marceau Crespin, then National Director of Physical Education and Sports, sent a note service to all Departmental Directors of Youth and Sports, and all the prefects.
"Subject of the letter: 'Women's rugby." This is the text:
"I think rugby - a contact sport requiring qualities of endurance, strength and virility - is unsuitable for girls and women for obvious physiological reasons.
Furthermore, it seems the organizers of the rugby matches - which look like female wrestling - try to get as many as possible through the ticket office, by allowing betting in the stadium, and morbid curiosity.
Moreover, the same organizers are systematically attempting to attract new players, including from women's athletics teams and basketball. And finally, they have no regard for the rules of sports medical supervision.
It is obvious that this is a dangerous practice physically and morally, so I urge you not to help or sponsor, these women's rugby teams."Unquestionably, there was a real desire to ban the playing of women's rugby. The FFR was also not left out, for its part banning referees from officiating at women's matches. The instruction was not always followed to the letter and the second championship of France was organized despite this instruction. Auch won the title at the expense of Tarbes with the same scoreas the first final, 10-8.
For girls the ministerial note only reinforced their beliefs. Bernard Marie-Celine, for example, remembers it like it was yesterday: "As players this was not our concern. Of course it shocked us, and we laughed at a time. But, if anything, the Crespin letter motivated us. "
To be continued ... Part II: ANNES 70 (...) THE HELPING HAND
Extract from the book "The Girl in rugby" , Editions Atlantica (2005). Written by Jacques Corte / Yaneth Pinilla B. Foreword by Serge Betsen.
This is really interesting. Please keep on translating. Thank you.
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