RUGBY-NATIONS/FRANCE France's Les Bleus become Les Rouges for match against Scotland

Record ID: 343058

  • Title: RUGBY-NATIONS/FRANCE France's Les Bleus become Les Rouges for match against Scotland
  • Date: 6th February 2015
  • Summary: MARCOUSSIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 6, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FRENCH RUGBY TEAM TRAINING CENTRE FRENCH RUGBY TEAM ASSISTANT COACH PATRICK LAGISQUET ARRIVING FOR NEWS BRIEFING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH RUGBY TEAM ASSISTANT COACH, PATRICK LAGISQUET, SAYING: "I know it's been used before. I like teams playing in red. In the past there were theories about teams who wore red wi
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5IZDWRJ9RMT3D5UEN4F5MBGD7
  • Story Text: Call them Les Rouges. Fifty years of rugby tradition was washed away when officials said France would start their Six Nations campaign against Scotland on Saturday (February 7) wearing red shirts.
    France, whose usual blue shirt is one of the most iconic in rugby, had a brief flirtation with red shirts in 1958 and 1959 against Australia and Scotland respectively, winning both games, though their usual change strip is white.
    As the team prepared on Friday (February 6) for the clash against Scotland, assistant coach Patrick Lagisquet said he hoped the colour red would bring them luck this time around as well.
    "I know it's been used before. I like teams playing in red. In the past there were theories about teams who wore red winning because Manchester was winning everything. But then you realise... Frankly, it's good. We know there's also a marketing approach. Here you go. All the world teams nowadays have a second jersey. We have a red one. I think it's beautiful. I know it's a very technical product because they requested our advice at some stages of its production. And if it makes us win and bring us luck then it will be perfect," he said.
    Captain Thierry Dusautoir said he expected the Scots to put all their strength into the game.
    "It's true that the Scottish are coming with their strengths, they changed their coach during the November tour. They're coming with (head coach) Vern Cotter who, I think, brought them more confidence. They needed confidence and to be sure of themselves to play as they did against the Blacks and to beat the Argentineans -- who won against us -- the way they did. I am sure that's what Vern Cotter is bringing them," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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