The class of 68 - the team that took the Grand Slam in Cardiff
I5 Claude Lacaze (Angouleme):
A fixture in the French side during most of the 60s until he retired in 1969 with 33 caps. Originally from Lourdes, but played most of his rugby for AC Angouleme. Brother of the equally talented Pierre Lacaze who won seven caps before turning to Rugby League
14 Jean Marie Bonal (Toulouse):
PE teacher and sub 11 seconds man for the 100m. Scored five tries in 14 Tests before he also turned to Rugby League, joining AS Carcassone before appearing for the French Xlll
13 Jo Maso (Narbonne):
Darling of the French media, known for his superb handling and the style in which he executed everything. Very much a 60s icon. Son of French Rugby League legend Jep Maso, he played for the Catalan Xlll before switching to Union. Later became a popular and diplomatic French manager
12 Claude Dourthe (Dax):
France’s youngest ever cap at 18 years and seven days, Dourthe played in a French championship final at 16 and had played Test rugby against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia before his 20th birthday. Father of Richard Dourthe and father-in-law to Olivier Magne and Raphael Ibanez
11 Andre Campaes (Lourdes):
Another very quick man on the France wing who ended up with 14 caps, the last coming against New Zealand in 1973. Worked as a bank clerk in Lourdes
10 Guy Camberabero (La Voulte):
Scored 110 points in a miserly 14 Tests, a total which included 11 dropped goal. Known for his kicking, but a devastating runner when in the mood. Father of Didier who also excelled for France at fly-half. It was Didier who contributed massively to Philippe Saint Andre’s famous try at Twickenham in 1991
9 Lilian Camberabero (La Voulte):
Known best for his long pass which gave Guy plenty of time to go about his work. Ridiculously only won 13 caps despite being on the losing side only once, Wales 1966, which was the one occasion he wasn’t paired with Guy.
1 Jean Claude Noble (La Voulte):
A club colleague of the Camberaberos, Noble was a diminutive but fiery prop whose six Tests all came in 1968. Retired and emigrated to the Cameroon where he helped establish the game
2 Michel Yachvilli (Tulle):
Son of a Georgian POW who walked to France after WWll before settling in Brive, Yachvilli played 15 Tests for France including one at flanker against Romania in 1972. Father of former Biarritz and France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili and Gregoire Yachvilli who opted for Georgia
3 Michel Lasserre (Agen):
Versatile forward who played prop, second row and No. 8 in top level games for Agen but was looked upon as a prop by France, winning 15 caps. Son Pascal was a very useful hooker for Toulouse in the 1990s.
4 Alain Plantefol (Agen):
A very useful lock who won 11 caps between 1967 and 1969 before losing out to some of the big beasts who came along in the 70s. Kept going at club level, though, and captained Agen to a French club championship in 1976
5 Elie Cester (Toulouse Olympic)
Perfect foil to the more volatile members of his pack. Hard working lock and smooth-line out operator who won 35 caps between 1966 and 1974. Died in January 2017
6 Walter Spanghero (Narbonne):
Volcanic forward who won 51 caps and was rated by Colin Meads as his toughest opponent. Son of an Italian bricklayer who moved to France in the 1930s. Had a stormy relationship with brother Claude who also played for France. Ran a huge taxi conglomerate in the south of France
7 Christian Carrere (Toulon, captain):
Stylish on and off the field, Carre was a 60s icon in France, captaining his side in 18 of the 27 Tests he played. Could operate anywhere in the backrow. Started his career with Tarbes before moving on to Toulon. Was selected for the Rest of the World Team for RFU Centennial game at Twickenham in 1971
8 Michel Greffe (Grenoble):
Made his debut in the deciding match against Wales at the Arms Park and by November his Test career was over. Yet another of the class of 68 with strong League routes having played amateur League for US Lyon Villeurbanne before joining Grenoble