rugby : Narbonne in the story of the French XV
|
His long list of achievements includes five Grand Slams, the first of which he contributed to as a player in 1968. Manager of the French fifteen since 1995, Jo Maso celebrates some of the key moments in a century of rugby for Narbonne’s black and orange team.
Ecouter Jo Maso
|
|
Jo Maso
"An enjoyable stop at a café terrace" |
|
 |
Jo Maso
"The Spanghero's, a unique family" |
|
|
Jean Rubiella
"A magnificent symbol of reconciliation" |
|
• Who demanded the return of Walter Spanghero in the French team in 1970?
At the beginning of the 70s, the head of state, Georges Pompidou, personally insisted that Walter Spanghero, author of a controversial book, be allowed to rejoin the French team. Almost an affaire d’état!
• When did the RCNM - the Narbonne Mediterranean Racing Club - win its second prize of the French Championship?
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Jo Maso : "The Spanghero's, a unique family" |
From 1968 to 1977 , the man with the “Catalan heart and roots” played in the number 10 position and also in centre, sporting the black and orange colours of the Narbonne Racing Club (RCN). “Time just flew by during those nine years of happiness in the midst of great people with an easy-going and pleasant Mediterranean temperament - just like their climate. They are generous and kind-hearted to a fault - which is why “ immigrants ” like myself and Spanghero take great pleasure in sharing their bread, their wine and their friendship. You can always have good cry and a great laugh with the people of Narbonne”
The Spanghero era . It’s impossible to think of Narbonne without thinking of Walter – (pronounced “woualtair”). Of Italian origin, Fernand and his wife presented rugby with a record number of six sons, Laurent, Walter, Jean-Marie, Claude, Guy and Gilbert. “The youngest was the only one I didn’t play with. He started when I was just finishing my career”, explains Jo.
France-Wales 1969 . Five Narbonne players, out of a total of 33, which the RCN supplied to the French team over a century, lined up together for a decisive encounter in the Tournament. As Jo points out “It’s really impressive if you remember that the players were picked from sixty clubs and not four or five, like nowadays".
The 1974 final . One of the greatest in the annals of the French championship; Béziers gained the upper hand over Narbonne in a top of the league derby (see above). “Although the result was so disappointing, 3,000 supporters waited outside the Town Hall to show us they were still behind us. I’ve never come across such humility, sincerity and encouragement anywhere else”, concludes Jo.
