Profile: Francois Moncla

Press, Volume C, Issue 29563, 12 July 1961, Page 13

Profile: Francois Moncla

'I’M, Rugby career of »- year-old Francois Monela, !n_a village’’in. the Lower I'yr-hees. Francois Monela V’Z*’!* with no Jove for e«y life Young, shy and awkward. his dialect, the harsh aceent and a prefere?* ** 8 r ji * «wk of eneesa. gave him away as a «®ntry person. But he had 'come up' to Paris with c.eariy-cut ambitions a •wind petition with the El«trttity Department that would ensure him a good pensioo in the years to come, •nd a place in Racing-the most famous football club in Franca. But the name of Francois Monela didn't mean much to the Rugby administrators. Breaking into big-time games vat certainly no easy task for Francois Racing did not lack stare. There were Porthault, Dufau and Francis Destheu. Michel Vannier was .coming to the fore. Monela was tried as a wing and as a flanker. Debut He made his debut for France in the 1956-57 season, the year in which the French team hit the bottom depths of defeat with losses against England. Wales. Scotland. « and Ireland. Those were the • days of the fetish of “mobile forwards." and it was only the achievements of brilliant attacking players such as Dupuy. Darrouy and Prat that saved French Rugby from utter ridicule. When Lucien Mias came on the scene the following season. 1958. he gave short shift to that nonsense of ‘ the game in true French style.” But Francois Monela was not one of the revitalised French pack that helped to make the great day at Cardiff on March 29, 1968. He was passed over in favour of that exceptional player, Michel Crauste. ~ When the tour to South „ Africa approached. Crauste • was unable to make the trip The selectors were criticised for replacing him with Fran- '

IBy DKNtS LALANNKI

cois Monela. whom some looked upon as the symbol of the ignominious defeats of a year earlier. The revelation came in South Africa. Monela was a star from the beginning to the end of the series. The prophecy of Roger Lerou of Racing, who had always championed Monela. had come true. “This excellent forward, dynamic and dedicated, who, although he has come from a remote Pyreneean village, will one day find his place in the world of international Rugby.” Once Monela had started there was no stopping him. The peevish player had given way to the good-tempered champion. We will never forget how. by his own efforts, he saved Racing time and time again in the difficult 1958-59 season, to lead them to ultimate vic-

tory and the title of “Champions of France.” Francois Monela is a famous hero, but he doesn't forget that he is also just a man. Once a week he gives Rugby lessons to the lads of Arudy. It is a duty and a pleasure for him, for he remembers the time when he w’as one of those small, Rugby-playing lads to whom the others used to sing this jeering refrain: "Francois blue stockings. Red pants Francois blue stockings, Blue pants” The truth is that for as long as he can remember, he always dreamed of red stockings, and a blue jersey bearing the number 6 with a beautiful tri-coloured shield on the breast. That is no longer a dream, or an April Fool’s Day hoax. (Copyright in New Zealand to Photo News, Ltd.)