French foray
By
JOHN COFFEY
Two Christchurch flatmates who are usually opponents on the rugby league field are soon to become club-mates for a first division team in Rouen, France.
Kevin Placid (Eastern Suburbs) and Jeff Atkinson (Halswell) leave later this month to spend off-season in Rouen. They will be the first players from Canterbury to appear at top club level in France since the former Kiwi scrum-half, Graeme Cooksley, had the 1972-73 northern winter with Avignon.
The French club has provided Atkinson and Placid with return air fares and accommodation, and their requests for temporary transfers have been forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby League for urgent processing.
Atkinson and Placid made the initial arrangements to play in France after discussions with Mr Robert Fassolette, the director of refereeing in France, who was in Christchurch earlier this year. French clubs have been keen to attract overseas footballers and a number of promising Australian players intend to link up with clubs in that country. In return, the Australian Rugby League has agreed to accept young Frenchmen into its ranks next season.. Placid, a strong secondrow forward arid goal-kicker, made his debut for Canterbury this year. At 25 years of age, he should benefit from a season in semi-professional rugby league. So, too, will Atkinson, aged 24, whose style will be atune to the open football preferred in France. A particularly speedy wing, Atkinson was the leading try-scOrer for Halswell this season.
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Press, 16 September 1982, Page 36
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241French foray Press, 16 September 1982, Page 36
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