French Coqs up for the challenge

Country: France
Capital: Paris
Population: 65,000,000
National language: French
Number of AFL participants: 150
Team nickname: Les Coqs
National sport: Soccer and Rugby Union

Road to the International Cup:
Australian Football was played in France for the first time during the First World War. After a few attempts to develop the game in the 1990s, some Australians and French created clubs in Paris and Strasbourg in 2004. Since then, five other clubs have been created in the south of the country. Some of them have established relationships with AFL Premiership clubs (Hawthorn and Fremantle).

For a couple of years, the French Australian clubs have affiliated to a national association, called “Union Nationale Sportive Léo Lagrange”. This association, recognised by the French government and the French Olympic Committee, helps clubs in their development and management, according to French government expectations. Inside this association, a board was created to manage the Australian football body: the “Commission Nationale de Football Australien” (CNFA).

Now French football has a national championship and a cup. Since 2004, the national team has played every European Cup and has participated in the European Championship with Iceland (mixed team). The team has been engaged in the International Cup for more than a year.

Because of the lack of knowledge of football in France, it is hard to find sponsors and help to participate. But everyone in the team is very invested in this adventure and all the players and staff have paid their own money to travel and stay. We thank our partners for furnishing all our equipment for the competition.

For the last three years the French have organised a game against a selection of Australian expats living in Europe to commemorate ANZAC Day. The games are played in Villers-Bretonneux and until this year were played in the 9-a-side format. They are now played in full format on a dedicated oval overlooking the Australian memorial.

Even if the team doesn’t have the full-format experience, playing at IC11 is a challenge that we accept.

France Q&A

How did the team come together?
The majority of our players come from France but we also have some who play in Canada and in Australia. So we made an appointment to get together in Sydney one week before Cup begins.

How long have you been training for?
We organised many training events during the year with all the players living in France. To welcome the other French coming from overseas, we will organise trainings during the week before the Cup.

Did Brett Kirk train with you?
No, just a lunch with the Paris team.

How do you think you’ll go at the International Cup?
It will depend on the seeding round. But if we are in the Division 2 we think that we have a chance to win it.

How did your country start playing AFL?
AFL began in 2004, introduced by Australian expats in Paris. But all other clubs were started by French people.

Why play AFL?
It is a complete sport, physically intense, easy to learn the basics, and everyone can play it.

What is your perception of Australia?
This is the dream of many French people. The country looks beautiful and the Australian culture is very attractive.

Most exciting part of this trip for you?
For many of us, this is our first time to Australia; discovering the original game and representing our country are awesome.

Who do you think will be your toughest opponent?
Our first game in the competition is against PNG, they are our toughest opponent, but we don’t expect much about this game. We think the Tonga match will be crucial for the rest of the competition.

Can you see AFL becoming a truly international game in the future?
Yes, probably in a decade. For that, if an international association is created, recognised by the International Olympic Committee, a continental association could be created and national association will be recognised by the national government (especially in Europe)

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network