North-west France

[langpark]

Today Nantes defeated Saint Pois 60-6.

https://www.facebook.com/100063505004476/posts/424623126331184/ 

This was the first I heard of Saint Pois so I tried digging a little deeper. Seems they are located between Caen and Rennes. According to wiki, population is just 490 (!!!!) 

They have a very active facebook page and it seems also have an active U7 and U11 team! What a pleasant surprise! That is what I came up with so far. Can anyone else shed any more light?

[RL Sonja]

Nantes is basically a lost heartland. There is a reason why the French played a key game in the RLWC 1954 there. Great support for the game in that period. 

[langpark]

I admire their persistence, despite the isolation and am glad to see they have some nearby(ish) neighbours. 

Also, I think I read that Nantes would be hosting some RLWC2025 matches, which would be great for them. 

Does anyone know anything more about this Saint Pois team? I am so intrigued how a village of 490 residents is able to field teams in THREE different age groups, and in a part of the country where the sport is not so popular. Again, would appreciate if anyone could share any info they have on this club. 

[JonM]

They have a write-up in the March issue of Rugby League World. Formed by Guillaume Luciano, the former Cavaillon, Entraigues & Avignon player who moved to Normandy. There is also mention of starting a wheelchair team to play against Les Homards du Cotentin, up by Cherbourg.

[langpark]

19 hours ago, JonM said:

They have a write-up in the March issue of Rugby League World. Formed by Guillaume Luciano, the former Cavaillon, Entraigues & Avignon player who moved to Normandy. There is also mention of starting a wheelchair team to play against Les Homards du Cotentin, up by Cherbourg.

Thanks for the info, very interesting. 

Nantes also posted this just yesterday. Loroux seems to be an active team in an outer suburb of Nantes. 

https://www.facebook.com/Loroux-rugby-13-108050535039309/ 

It seems there is a bit more activity up there than I had initially realised. Great to see! 

[JonM]

The Comite Loire-Atlantique has 6-8 clubs in total, I think, although not all of them are actually active right now. There's obviously a big step from (for example) being able to put out a team of 7 or 9 kids to play in a tournament once or twice a year to being able to play a full 13-aside season, particularly with the travel involved.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Great stuff can only get BETTER with the RLWC/2025:)

 

Paul