Early life
Robert Paparemborde was born on 5 July 1948, in Ance, located in the Barétous valley of Béarn. Growing up in Laruns, he excelled in athletics, judo, and handball, winning the French cadet judo championship in 1964 and later representing France at the junior level in handball. He began rugby at the Louis-Barthou high school, playing for the Coquelicots de Pau, and led the team to a French high school championship in 1966. He was recognized as an international school rugby player in 1967. [1]
Section Paloise
At 18, Robert Paparemborde joined Section Paloise, initially playing as a center and winger before settling as a tighthead prop. His early career saw significant moments, such as a standout performance in the 1968 Coupe de France against SU Agen. Over the years, he became a crucial player for the team, contributing to their victory in the 1970 Challenge Antoine-Béguère. In 1983, despite being offered the role of head coach, Paparemborde decided to leave the club after many years of dedication.
Racing Club de France
After 17 years at Section Paloise, Robert Paparemborde joined Racing Club de France, where he was offered a role in public relations with Banania. Although Racing's matches were often in modest stadiums, Paparemborde played a key part in their promotion back to Groupe A for his final season. He later became coach and president of Racing, leading the team to the French Championship in 1990 as technical director and to the finals in 1987 as coach.
International career
Robert Paparemborde had a distinguished international career with the French national rugby team from 1975 to 1983. As a tighthead prop, he helped France win the Five Nations Championship three times, including two Grand Slams in 1977 and 1981. He was also part of the historic 1979 team that defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand. With 54 caps and seven tries, he retired as the record-holder for most caps by a French prop.
Additionally, he co-founded the French Barbarians and captained them in several matches.
Legacy
He was regarded as one of the greatest prop-forwards and was a member of the French team that won the Five Nations Championship in 1977 (Grand Slam), 1981(Grand Slam), and 1983. [2] [3] [4]
He also played for a World XV on 9 August 1980 against Argentina in Buenos Aires, losing 36-22. [5]
Robert Paparemborde's legacy is honored in multiple ways. Since 2003, the rugby stadium in Laruns bears his name. In 2009, a collège Robert-Paparemborde was opened in Colombes, and in 2013, the Espace Paparemborde was created at the Auteuil racecourse in Paris. Despite never playing at the Stade du Hameau for Section Paloise, there was a proposal to rename it after him when François Bayrou became mayor of Pau in 2014, as part of the renovation project.
Jason Leonard is an English former rugby union player. He won a then-record 114 caps for England men’s rugby team during a 14-year international career.
Section Paloise, often referred to simply as la Section or Pau, is a professional rugby union club based in Pau, France. They are participants in the Top 14, France's premier rugby division, and also compete in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Stade du Hameau is a versatile stadium and sports convention center located in Pau, France. The construction started in 1948 and the stadium has been owned by the city of Pau since 1983, when it was transferred from the French army. The primary use of this stadium is for rugby union matches, serving as the home ground for the French club Section Paloise.
Duncan James Jones is a former Welsh rugby union player who played at loose head prop for the Ospreys in the Pro12 and has played for Wales.
Ian Stephens is a former Wales international rugby union player. A prop who toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, visiting South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand in 1983. At the time, he played club rugby for Bridgend RFC. Ian was a tough, hard-nosed prop who had the rare ability to play both sides of the scrum at the highest level, though his preferred position was loosehead. Ian is also known as Ike or Ikey.
Lionel Beauxis, born on 14 October 1985 in Tarbes (Hautes-Pyrénées), is a French rugby union player who primarily played as a fly-half.
Bradley Ronald Johnstone is a New Zealand rugby union administrator and former player who is currently the president of the North Shore Rugby Football Club. He played as a prop
Enrique "Topo"Edgardo Rodríguez is an Argentine and Australian retired rugby union player.
Marc Dal Maso is a former French rugby union player and a current coach. He played in the position of a hooker.
Jean-François Imbernon is a retired French international rugby union player.
Lourens Cornelius Adriaanse is a South African rugby union rugby player who plays as a tighthead prop for Sharks in the South African Currie Cup.
Colin Edward Smart is a former international rugby union player, who played as a prop, from Highbury, London, England.
Guram Papidze in Tbilisi, Georgia is a Georgian rugby union player. He plays as Prop for Section Paloise in Top 14.
Harry Anthony Hall Williams, in London, England, is an English international rugby union player. He plays as a tighthead prop for Section Paloise in the Top 14. Williams previously played for London Wasps, Nottingham, Jersey Reds, Exeter Chiefs and Montpellier Hérault Rugby. At International level, Williams made his England debut against Argentina on 10 June 2017.
François Moncla was a French international rugby union player, playing as a flanker from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s. He earned 31 caps for France between 1956 and 1961, contributing to three Five Nations victories, scoring 27 points. Moncla captained the national team 18 times and participated in tours to South Africa (1958), Argentina (1960), and New Zealand (1961). After moving to Paris for work, he played for Racing CF, winning the 1959 French championship, later going back home in his beloved Béarn and joining Section Paloise to secure another title in 1964.
Jon Zabala is a Spanish rugby union player, who plays for Section Paloise. He is an international player with Spain national rugby team.
Fin Baxter is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Premiership club Harlequins. His main position is loosehead prop but he can also play tighthead prop.
Hugo Auradou is a France rugby union player who plays as a lock for Pau in the Top 14 competition and the France national team. He made his Top 14 debut with his club on 22 December 2022.
Théo Attissogbé is a France rugby union player who plays as a full back for Pau in the Top 14 competition and the France national under-20 team. He made his Top 14 debut with his club on 25 August 2023.
Hugo Parrou is a France rugby union player who plays as a prop for Section Paloise in the Top 14 competition and the France national under-20 team. He made his Top 14 debut with his club on 27 January 2024.
This page is based on this
Wikipedia article Text is available under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
