Why do the French play Rugby?

Question

Rugby tends to be played by ex colonial powers, but the French have always always played, yet the Belgians and Germans didnt pick it up. Don't get it.

Answer 1

Good question!!! Have you seen them lately. Pish!

Answer 2

Cos'è hai pippa della francia? è come kiedere xkè il brasile gioca a calcio........CMQ Italy will beat All Blacks.

Answer 3

Probably because the English invented the game and they wanted to beat them at it.  They certainly have taken it to heart though... they've played and won more international games than any other country... of course their 55% winning percentage is not even close to NZ's 74%.... but it does beat out Englands 53%.

All that bragging out of England for a barely above .500 team... hmmm

Answer 4

The French play rugby because they're really good at it and will certainly beat the English this year!

Answer 5

In France, Rugby is above all played in the South, where english population was (and is always) numerous in the beginning of the 20th century.

Answer 6

Germany and Belgium  never came under any real influence of  the British Empire back then ..  France always had some affiliation and Rugby naturally being played in England  was easily introduced  into France ,  France is one of the earliest and oldest rugby unions ..

Romania is an interesting case in point .. They were very strong in the early days .. They seemed to take to rugby and fielded a strong side as well as enjoying a strong presence in Romania .. Sadly , the ran foul of political repercussions with communist rule and limited resources .. Some say that now they have joined the EU that rugby will return to what is was a year or two ago , I don't really see that happening .. Most of their good players have headed off to the UK and are now playing for English clubs getting paid  as professionals .. There is little chance that they will return to boost the flagging domestic rugby scene now in Romania as there is no money available to pay them and little investment by foreign companies to lift any work opportunities in Romanian industry ....  The rugby future in Romania looks grim ..

Answer 7

The south west region called Aquitaine as allways been invaded by english people since the middle ages and was even an english possession for years...

The relations between england and the people of Bordeaux became also very close because of the wine and alcohool merchands exporting to London.

These relations explain why the rugby game as become popular here and spread through the whole region

Answer 8

Because they are good at it.

Answer 9

Actually, Germany was a continental power before WW2 (or was it WW1).  It's a shame they didn't keep it up...I think the Germans would definitely be a world power if it were popular there.

Another interesting case is Romania.  For many years, they were the #2 team on the continent (before Italy started picking things up so much).  In fact, if the established powers of rugby had not been so closed-minded in the 70s and 80s, and had been willing much earlier to expand the 5 Nations, I think that Romania would also be a European power today instead of having fallen so far like they have.  But why Romania and not Hungary or Greece or Finland?

Answer 10

Hi Mark,

Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Year's Day, 1906 the national side played its first Test match—against New Zealand in Paris. France played sporadically against the British Home Nations until they joined them to form a Five Nations tournament in 1910.

Answer 11

Why do the French play Rugby?

For the pleasure of beating the team of England...

Answer 12

perhaps we should ask why they have to be so good at it!

Answer 13

Why shouldn't they play? That's what sport is all about isn't it? Just because the English 'invented' it doesn't mean they have the monopoly on it. Watch them in the World Cup - then ask the same question. They play because they are really good at it.