Last Thursday, the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata hosted a fascinating public talk on the rugby rivalry between France and New Zealand. On this occasion, Te Arawhata had the pleasure of welcoming guest speaker Joris Vincent, a lecturer at the University of Lille and ex-”rugbyman”.
Through his research and numerous published articles, Joris shared valuable insights into both the history of the game and the legendary rivalry. Here, we take a look back at the key moments, symbols, and stories that shaped the evening.
1 January 1906 is a landmark date in the history of French rugby. After a six-month tour of Great Britain, the famous All Blacks arrived in France to play a series of international matches against the French, a year before Les Bleus would first play their neighbours across the Channel, England.
This first match gave birth to a rivalry stretching over a century, with ups and downs for both sides along the way.
The evening began with an interview of young New Zealand player Max Hicks, currently playing in France for Perpignan in the Top 14. Before coming to France, Max played for the Highlanders in Dunedin and represented the Māori All Blacks. He spoke about his first impressions on arrival in France, and about the cultural and sporting similarities and differences he noticed.
Joris then revisited that fateful first visit to France in 1906, a decisive moment for French rugby. These initial encounters offered the French team a gateway into the world of rugby, then still a very closed circle dominated by Britain and the former colonies of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
One of the most moving parts of the talk was the tribute to Dave Gallaher, the All Blacks’ first captain and a New Zealand soldier who was killed during the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. Gallaher was also a rugby thinker, author of one of the very first books on rugby tactics and strategies. Gallaher, a giant in the history of rugby and New Zealand, is remembered through the naming of the Dave Gallaher Trophy, a prize contested each time the All Blacks play the French.
The evening focused squarely on the friendly rivalry which continues to push both teams to their extremes. We saw that this rivalry is not limited to the 80 minutes of play; it is also expressed around the game, such as during confrontations during the haka. Symbolism plays a huge role, as shown in the famous French responses to the All Blacks’ traditional challenge, such as the advancing line in the colours of the French flag at the 2007 World Cup, and the arrowhead formed by Les Bleus in 2011.
The talk ended with an engaging discussion with the audience, including about the evolution of players’ physiques: over the decades, rugby players have become increasingly powerful and imposing, which has unfortunately led to injuries occurring more frequently. Max and Joris spoke about the dangers of concussion and how players take these risks upon themselves when they enter the field of play.
This event, like many others, reflects Te Arawhata’s mission to be an active part of the Le Quesnoy community and to welcome everyone who wishes to take part. Our friendly social gatherings after each event are the perfect chance to connect and share in what unites us.
Ultimately, sport brings people together more than it divides them.
“Rugby is not just a sport: it is a story of symbols, memory, and human connections.” Joris Vincent
This conference highlighted inspiring stories, reflecting what Te Arawhata stands for: every individual’s story matters.
Join us for upcoming events, such at our guided tours of the Museum for the European Heritage Days (20-21 September), our next talk focussing on the experience of the Canadians during the final stages of the War (16 October), and our commemorations for the Liberation of Le Quesnoy (2 and 4 November).