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The Forbidden Game: The Untold Story of French Rugby League by Mike Rylance
The phenomenal rise of rugby league in pre-war France and its scandalous obliteration by the collaborationist Vichy government qualifies as one of the greatest stories never told. Corruption, brutality and shamateurism had plagued the world of orthodox rugby when rugby league made its first appearance across the Channel, bringing with it open professionalism and a new, dynamic sporting spectacle which delighted the public. Only six seasons later, le rugby frieze, thr troublesome upstart, was wiped out by a conspiracy which counts as one of the most extreme examples of one sport's hostility towards another. A victim of the shadowy rugby union figures who stalked the newly-opened corridors of power at Vichy, rugby league suffered a scandalous abuse of authority which has had repercussions up to the present day.In this book, the full story of French rugby's tragedy is presented to a British audience for the first time. Now that an official government enquiry is being conducted into France's dark past under the Vichy regime, Mike Rylance's research, conducted over many years, is both a timely testament and a masterly account of one of sport's greatest injustices.
- GenresHistory
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 4, 2014
A story of insecure bullies cutting their opponents legs off at the knee to ensure they can't run in the race.
Want to know why a boring sport like rugby union can boast a greater amount of countries playing at a higher level than the clearly more entertaining rugby league?
This book is a good starting point. It chronicles the rise of rugby league in France prior to WWII and the reasons for its demise thereafter. The elitist attitudes of the rugby union establishment as outlined here are enough to sicken any person of reasonable thought. Unfortunately though this book most likely falls on deaf ears. Still Mr Rylance must be congratulated for his work here. Rugby league will one day have its place in the sun and that same sun will set on the tired grey dog called rugby union. The Forbidden Game's expose of one of the unions many injustices might just have a part to play.
Want to know why a boring sport like rugby union can boast a greater amount of countries playing at a higher level than the clearly more entertaining rugby league?
This book is a good starting point. It chronicles the rise of rugby league in France prior to WWII and the reasons for its demise thereafter. The elitist attitudes of the rugby union establishment as outlined here are enough to sicken any person of reasonable thought. Unfortunately though this book most likely falls on deaf ears. Still Mr Rylance must be congratulated for his work here. Rugby league will one day have its place in the sun and that same sun will set on the tired grey dog called rugby union. The Forbidden Game's expose of one of the unions many injustices might just have a part to play.
May 13, 2017
I love rugby league so giving this one 80% is not too easy. I love the premise of the book and associate strongly with the under-dog spirit of rugby league, particularly when it emerged from the shadow of rugby union in the latter nineteenth century.
One passage from the book, on page 119 that I like is, "There is one difference between the amateur rugby union player and the professional rugby league player: the latter receives his money in his hand: the rugby union player finds it in his boots."
What Mark Rylance has captured perfectly here is the tale of injustice that rugby league has had to endure. It clearly is the superior code of rugby in terms of skill, technique and ethos. It is diabolical that the Vichy government of France would suppress this emergent code because it feared the demise of rugby union. Did they fear a revolution?
One passage from the book, on page 119 that I like is, "There is one difference between the amateur rugby union player and the professional rugby league player: the latter receives his money in his hand: the rugby union player finds it in his boots."
What Mark Rylance has captured perfectly here is the tale of injustice that rugby league has had to endure. It clearly is the superior code of rugby in terms of skill, technique and ethos. It is diabolical that the Vichy government of France would suppress this emergent code because it feared the demise of rugby union. Did they fear a revolution?
June 13, 2013
A great book highlighting a dark period in rugby history. It's a shame that the post-war history makes up so little of the conclusion of the book, but the main story, that is of the hypocrisy of those who administrated French rugby in the interwar period, is fantastic.
August 31, 2017
Fascinating story of how ra-ra snobbery led to collaboration with Vichy
French rugby union was always the bastion of shamateurism, Rylance's history of its successful collaboration with Vichy to outlaw rugby league underpins the links between politics and sport. This excellent book exposes the snobbery and pretensions of the blazered buffers of the RFU
French rugby union was always the bastion of shamateurism, Rylance's history of its successful collaboration with Vichy to outlaw rugby league underpins the links between politics and sport. This excellent book exposes the snobbery and pretensions of the blazered buffers of the RFU
November 9, 2017
Great story of the development of a sport and the history of some influential players and administrators. Such a shame the pettiness of some could destroy something so great.
How any rugby union fan could be proud of their sport with the evidence of this book and numerous other examples throughout the world I have no idea.
How any rugby union fan could be proud of their sport with the evidence of this book and numerous other examples throughout the world I have no idea.
March 30, 2021
An excellent insight into a shameful part of sporting history. Essential reading not just for RL fans, or even RU fans, but sports fans in general and anyone who thinks politics and sport never mix...
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews