1935 Match of Champions

1935 Match of Champions 250px VIL villeneuve 12 SWI Swinton 12 9 16 25 11 16 27 19 May 1935 18 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46348462/f3.item Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre, et Villeneuve, Champion de France, joueront demain, à Bordeaux L'Auto Paris 3 fr Talence, Gironde, France Albert Dupouy 15,000 20 May 1935 Rugby à 13 : Par deux points, Swinton a battu les Villeneuvois https://www.retronews.fr/journal/le-jour/20-mai-1935/1125/2993889/8 Le Jour Paris 8 Parc de Suzon n/a The 1935 Match of Champions was a single-game rugby league football contest pitting Rugby Football League champions Swinton RLFC against French champions SA Villeneuvois of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. It took place in the Bordeaux suburb of Talence on 19 May 1935, shortly after their respective domestic wins. Background The Rugby Football League of England played an active role in the introduction of its code to France, and was eager to support its fledgling equivalent, the Ligue de Rugby à XIII, by agreeing to many Anglo-French fixtures, which served as both teaching tools and promotional vehicles for the game thanks to the longstanding rivalry between the two countries. A grand final between the national champions of both countries was considered as soon as both organizations started working together on the 1934–35 schedule in May 1934. 18 May 1934 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k32642101/f2.item Les 'treize' s'organisent France Olympique Toulouse 2 fr The date of the game was announced as part of the season's provisional schedule in late August 1934. 30 August 1934 Nouvelles de partout : Rugby https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k821668b/f5.item Le Populaire 5 frF.A. Marsh 1 September 1934 Rugby League Men and Matters https://www.newspapers.com/image/940595607/ Huddersfield Daily Examiner 4 A game between French Cup winners US Lyon-Villeurbanne and Challenge Cup winners Castleford RLFC was also organized on 12 May in the Paris suburb of Montrouge. 15 May 1935 La grande recontre 'd'équipe' de la saison : Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre contre Villeneuve, Champion de France https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k45585848/f4.item.zoom L'Athlète moderne Bordeaux 940 4 Before both were assigned to French cities, each contest was planned to alternate between a French and a British host. 29 May 1934 Quelques précisions au sujet des rencontres franco-anglaises de la saison prochaine https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634493b/f4.item L'Auto Paris 4 Swinton RLFC, which had already expressed their intent to participate prior to their domestic championship game, 20 April 1935 Swinton and France https://www.newspapers.com/image/930724573 Evening Chronicle Manchester 1 fr finalized playing arrangements on May 14, and left Manchester for France on May 17. Their contract stipulated that they would receive no share of the games' proceeds, other than the reimbursement of their expenses. 14 May 1935 Swinton's Tour to Leave France on Wednesday https://www.newspapers.com/image/930727665/ Evening Chronicle Manchester 1 fr The touring party consisted of three executives, a secretary, a trainer and 16 players, including three alternates named as Th. Holland (scrum-half), S. Woodall (second row) and John Stoddart (front row). 23 May 1935 Swinton contre Pau 13 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5271387p/f4.item L'Indépendant des Pyrénéées Pau 3 fr Villeneuve presented its best possible lineup for the game. 17 May 1935 Swinton, champion d'Angleterre rencontre Villeneuve, champion de France, dimanche à Bordeaux https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3264311s/f1.item France Olympique Toulouse 1 fr As they were already assured of the French title (which was then decided by a regular season only), Villeneuve stars Max Rousié and Jean Galia opted to sit out their final championship game the previous week against Bordeaux, which resulted in a loss.E.B. 18 May 1935 A Bordeaux les champions s'affrontent https://www.retronews.fr/journal/le-jour/18-mai-1935/1125/2993895/8 Le Jour Paris 8 fr It was particularly crucial to Rousié, who was still limited by the same knee injury that had caused him kept him to miss Team France's Jubilee Game against Great Britain. 14 May 1935 'Je crois que je pourrai jouer le 19' nous dit Max Rousié https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634842d/f6.item L'Auto Paris 4 fr Following the French representatives' encouraging showings in the Jubilee Match and the Cup Winners' Match, a win was considered a real possibility by the press, 19 May 1935 Champion de France contre Champion d'Angleterre : Villeneuve battra-t-il Swinton ? https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-petite-gironde/19-mai-1935/241/2008171/2 La Petite Gironde Bordeaux 2 fr 17 May 1935 Champions de France et d'Angleterre dimanche prochain à Bordeaux https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634845n/f4.item L'Auto Paris 4 fr although it was noted that Villeneuve had looked fatigued in the final stretch of the domestic season. 19 May 1935 Les champions de la Rugby League à Bordeaux https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137935b/f5.item La Dépêche Toulouse 4 fr In the UK, the Manchester Evening Chronicle thought that Swinton had a good chance of prevailing, but noted that their workmanlike style had left many observers unimpressed. Tickets were priced between 8 and 15 francs according to one source, and between 5 and 13.25 francs according to another. 19 May 1935 Swinton, Champion d'Angleterre contre Villeneuve, Champion de France https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-france-de-bordeaux-et-du-sud-ouest/19-mai-1935/1113/4431045/2 La France de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest 2 fr The event proved a massive success at the gate, and Parc de Suzon was too small to satisfy public demand. 20 May 1935 Sinton le meilleur : Il a battu Villeneuve à Bordeaux par 27 à 25 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7640722z/f10.item.zoom Paris-soir 10 fr Game summary The game was a prolific affair. The scoring started almost immediately with a 50-metre penalty kick by Rousié, 20 May 1935 Swinton F.C. Champion d'Angleterre, bat Villeneuve, Champion de France, par 25 pts à 7. https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-gazette-de-biarritz-bayonne-et-saint-jean-de-luz/20-mai-1935/695/2307423/4 La Gazette de Bayonne, du Pays basque et des Landes Biarritz 4 fr but the pace picked up even further in the second, with both teams scoring four tries each.Bardet O. 20 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634848w/f5.item Entre champions : Villeneuve a succombé de justesse devant Swinton L'Auto Paris 5 fr While the contest was close and ultimately decided by a single penalty kick in the first, the scoreline was somewhat flattering for the French, who were outplayed most of the time, especially in scrums.Dumail J. 20 May 1935 https://www.retronews.fr/journal/la-france-de-bordeaux-et-du-sud-ouest/20-mai-1935/1113/4431547/6 Match international : A Bordeaux-Suzon – Swinton bat Villeneuve par 27 points à 25 La France de Bordeaux et du Sud-Ouest 6 fr Hodgson's second-period try, an almost coast-to-coast effort that started behind the Brittons' 22-metre line, and only took seven or eight passes to move the ball all the way up the field, was revelatory of the true difference in class between the two teams, and some were underwhelmed by Villeneuve's performance. Hodgson shone for the Brittons, while Daffis was deemed to have been Villeneuve's best player.Gibert Jean 22 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4558585p/f4.item Champion d'Angleterre contre Champion de France à Suzon : Swinton F.C. bat Villeneuve XIII L'Athlète moderne Bordeaux 4 fr French teammate and star Jean Galia was injured during the game. Incident Just like in the Cup Winners' Match held in Paris one week prior,De Lascoumettes Jean 14 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k7947454/f6.item Après le match Lyon–Castleford, petite supplique au public L'Intransigeant Paris 6 fr the French representative's narrow defeat, possibly exacerbated by a misunderstanding of the new code's offside rules, inflamed the public's frustration. The referee was blamed for awarding a disputed try to Swinton, and denying one to Villeneuve. Although, unlike in the Paris, lead official Albert Dupouy was French and a former union international, this did not do anything to pacify the crowd, who invaded the field at the end of the game, and attempted to assault him.Lery O. 22 May 1935 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137938k/f4.item Propos du mercredi : Haro sur l'arbitre ! La Dépêche Toulouse 4 fr He had to be escorted back to his locker room under the protection of the police. Match details #eeeeee 19 May 1935 15:30 villeneuve 12 SA Villeneuvois 25–27 Swinton 12 Swinton RLFC Cougnenc, Puyuelo (2), Daffis, Camo Rousié [2 uncredited conversions in 2nd half] Penalty: Rousié (2) Buckingham (2), Hodgson, Shaw, Wright Hodgson [2 uncredited conversions in 2nd half] Penalty: Hodgson (3) Parc de Suzon 15,000 Albert Dupouy SA Villeneuvois Fullback: Marius Guiral Threequarters: Ernest Camo, Étienne Cougnenc, Max Rousié, ? Dazenières Halfbacks: Georges Lhespitaou (fly-half), Pierre Brinsolles (scrum-half) Forwards: Maurice Laffargue (lock), Jean Galia, Antoine Puyuelo (second row), Jean Daffis, Maurice Porra, Jean Barrès (front row) Swinton RLFC Fullback: Bob Scott Threequarters: Frank Buckingham, Arthur Hickman, Harold Evens, W. Shaw Halfbacks: R. Green (fly-half), Bryn Evans (scrum half) Forwards: James Sullivan (lock), Fred Butters, Martin Hodgson (second row), Gomer Hughes, Tom Armitt, Joe Wright (front row) Swinton tour of France Contrary to Castleford's visit, which consisted of a standalone fixture, Swinton's visit was turned into a four-game tour. Following the unification game, they followed with three exhibition fixtures. The Mancunians' trip was planned to run concurrently with a second French tour by Leeds RLFC. 10 May 1935 'Nous comptons sur la venue de grandes équipes anglaises' https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4634838h/f4.item L'Auto Paris fr However, Leeds cancelled their appearance 15 May 1935 Chez les Treize : Leeds ne viendra pas https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k53920907/f6.item L'Express du Midi Toulouse 6 fr (they would reschedule one at the start of the following season), and the two tours were condensed into one. 19 May 1935 Rugby-treize : Champion d'Angleterre contre champion de France https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k794750k/f6.item.zoom L'Intransigeant Paris 6 fr 19 May 1935 Un match international à Nantes https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4137935b/f5.item La Dépêche Toulouse 4 fr Despite Swinton not receiving payment for their participation, host club Pau XIII found the fee charged by the French Rugby League to book the English tourists quite taxing on their finances. 21 May 1935 Swinton, champion d'Angleterre de Rugby League 1935 contre Pau XIII https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5271385v/f6.item L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées Pau 6 fr The match against the South France selects was originally scheduled to take place in Toulouse, before the hosting rights were picked up by a cycling club in Cognac, whose federation was typically much more accommodating to the new code than those representing rugby union and association football. 19 May 1936 Grand match international de rugby à treize à Cognac https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46636909/f2.item La Charente Angoulème 2 fr Date Opponent Venue Score24 MayPau XIIIStade Bourbaki, Pau, Basses-Pyrénées 19–8 26 MaySouth West France selectsVélodrome Petit-Breton, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique 25 May 1935 Grand match international à Nantes, Swinton, champion d'Angleterre, demain après-midi, contre Sélection du Sud-Ouest https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k625917v/f10.item L'Ouest-Éclair Nantes 10 fr 14–6 30 MaySouth France selectsVélodrome, Cognac, Charente 29–22 17 August 1935 English Finance: Healthy League Coffers https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-647257995/view?sectionId=nla.obj-652085076&partId=nla.obj-647273499#page/n3/mode/1up Rugby League News Sydney 16 20 2 Cancelled 1936 Match The contest was originally supposed to be an annual event, featuring the current champions of France and England. Contrary to the inaugural match, whose scheduling was agreed upon early on, the date of the 1936 edition was apparently not chosen until late into the season, 10 April 1936 Chronique de L'Enervé https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3264377j/f2.item France Olympique Toulouse 2 fr when a 10 May date was announced. 15 April 1936 C'est à un véritable exode des Villeneuvois vers Bordeaux qu'on assistera dimanche https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4629498p/f4.item L'Auto Paris 4 fr However, the contest could not take place on that day, due to the postponement of the NRFL Championship's elimination rounds, which caused the final to be moved from 2 May to 9 May. 11 March 1936 R.L. Fixtures: Re-arrangement for matches fixed for Cup Final day Huddersfield Daily News At a meeting of the Rugby League Management Committee in Leeds this afternoon, it was decided to play the League match down for decision on April 18—the date of the R.L. Cup Final at Wembley—on April 25. It was also decided to play the League Semi-Finals on May 2 and the League Final on May 9. The 10 May date was filled by a contest between the winner of the French Cup (Côte Basque) and the winner of the French championship (XIII Catalan), which was played in Perpignan and won by the former by a score of 16–15. 11 May 1936 https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4189031k/f3.item La Côte Basque a battu le XIII Catalan Le Petit méridional Montpellier 3 fr To accommodate the English delay, XIII Catalan adjusted their schedule, extending a new offer to the last two teams in the running for the RFL title, Widnes RLFC and Hull FC, for 17 May. 5 May 1936 Rugby League Finalists: French Offers to Widnes and Hull https://www.newspapers.com/image/891002616/ Daily Post Liverpool 14 Contemporary British press indicates that Widnes accepted the challenge two days prior to the final, win or lose. The financial conditions offered by the French were described as less than enticing, but the allure of a journey to France convinced the Widnes players to commit anyway. 8 May 1936 Widnes to Tour France: Sporting Gesture https://www.newspapers.com/image/806031491 Runcorn Weekly News 1 Widnes also entered talks with Côte Basque and Bordeaux to play exhibitions on their grounds and extend the trip into a one-week tour. 5 May 1936 Bee's Notes On Sports https://www.newspapers.com/image/797028444 Liverpool Echo 10Peel John 7 May 1936 https://www.newspapers.com/image/891002914/ World of Sport: Widnes's Chances in the final Daily post Liverpool 13 fr Following their loss in the championship final, the unification game against XIII Catalan was dropped from the program, and Widnes' tour of France proceeded purely as an exhibition affair. 8 May 1936 The French Tour: Full Itinerary - Party Leaves To-day for France https://www.newspapers.com/image/806031491 Runcorn Weekly News 1 References Category:Defunct rugby league competitions Category:Rugby league competitions in France Category:Rugby league competitions in the United Kingdom Match of Champions