Le Coq

A Journey to the Heart of French Rugby

By: Peter Bills

Narrated by: Peter Bills

From French rugby's origins in Le Havre, (as an English export in the late nineteenth century), to the Catalan coast, acclaimed rugby writer Peter Bills travels the length and breadth of this vast country, visiting not only the big cities but those regional heartlands of the game such as Toulouse, Bordeaux and Clermont, as well as clubs in the Basque country, to reveal a country whose deep love of rugby has created a culture and playing style like no other.

Featuring exclusive interviews with many of the greatest international players to have played club rugby in France, from Jonny Wilkinson to Dan Carter, as well as French legends of the sport, from Serge Blanco and Jean-Pierre Rives to Antoine Dupont, Le Coq: A History of French rugby brings to life the passion, color, excitement, characters, anecdotes, locations and great moments of French rugby's near 150 years of existence, just as it prepares to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

©2023 Peter Bills (P)2023 W.F. Howes Ltd

France and Rugby- my two favorite subjects

I was a university student in Montpellier, France in 1981-82 when I discovered rugby. I have been to rugby world cups in France in 2007 and 2023. This book is a deep dive into French culture, and the history of rugby in France… It’s a book written with great love and care about France and rugby. I would highly recommend this book to any rugby fan, and also somebody who wants to see what makes the French tick.