LensMore often than not in France, rugby-related events occur south of the Loire. Paris is the exception, particularly with the Stade de France over the last few years, so the naming of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region as a venue for the Rugby World Cup in 2007, rugby is getting a real boost.
Lens is, in fact, one of the centres for French soccer, and the place where the Sang et Or du Racing soccer club developed its now famous Félix-Bollaert Stadium, named after the Director of the Mines in 1922.
It was under Bollaert’s chairmanship that the stadium was built (1931-1932) and it has since been modernised on two occasions; the first for the European Nations championship in 1984, and the second for the Soccer World Cup in 1998. France’s soccer team won on both occasions and the Bollaert Stadium now seats 41,500 spectators.
Although not steeped in rugby tradition, the Pas-de-Calais region has had various opportunities in the recent past to show its flair for the game: On 20 October 1999, Ireland lost a fine match against Argentina (24-28) in a Rugby World Cup match. Later, in August 2003, the Tricolores overcame Romania 56-8, and the French Barbarians beat the All Blacks 23-21 there in November 2000.
On each occasion, the hot-blooded Lens folk lived up to their reputation as the best spectators in France, with the sweet fragrances from the chip stands rounding off the local atmosphere.
Did you know?.. Just a few months after this 2007 Rugby World Cup, Lens will witness the opening of the Louvre II in 2008. An annex to the world-famous Louvre museum in Paris, it is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors a year.
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