Andre Boniface, the epitome of French flair

FRENCH rugby has paid tribute to one of its greats this week – Andre Boniface, who died at the age of 89 last Monday. A minute’s applause was to be held before kick off of all ProD2 and Top 14 matches this week. The emotions were especially high at Mont-de-Marsan’s home ground, where they faced Biarritz on Friday night, which is named after the player and his brother Guy, who died in a traffic collision in 1968.

Andre Boniface proudly sported the colours of the Landes club for 20 years in the centres or on the wing, lifting the Bouclier de Brennus in 1963. He also won four Five Nations Tournaments with France – and is considered, with his brother, one of the architects of the mythical ‘French flair’.

The term was invented by the English after seeing the duo in action together, as they ripped up what was, at the time, the traditional playbook for midfield players.

“Many people have gone down in history, few have gone down in legend,” LNR president René Bouscatel wrote in a press release. “Andre Boniface has just accessed it for eternity. He left his mark on rugby with his class and his talent.

“Alongside his brother Guy in particular, he contributed to the finest days of Montois and French rugby, and made as many people as possible love rugby. He embodied elegance both on and off the field.”