How a French woman fell for an England rugby legend – and then saw the affair cut short by injury. Now the union has been well and truly restored.
Saturday February 3, 2007: To all Southern Hemisphere rugby fans, it was only the second day of the second Super 14. But for we Northern Hemisphere people, it was the beginning of the 2007 Six Nations Championship. Unfortunately for me, I had to work and missed the three matches (but not the highlights – don’t worry, I have survived!)
It’s Day One of the Six Nations. So what? That’s what you all think, don’t you? My love for rugby started during this tournament, at the end of the last century, when France played England. I don’t really remember if it was 1998-99 or 2000, I just remember that I saw that guy Jonny Wilkinson and have not looked back.
Like every French woman, I discovered that sportsmen were cute during the football World Cup in 1998. I also discovered that rugby players were gorgeous – thanks to the calendar of ‘Les Dieux Du Stade’. But what has kept me watching rugby, what made me learn the rules (not all of them, but the big ones) is a certain left foot!
Wilkinson is said to be the David Beckham or Prince William of rugby. No, for me, he is simply Jonny (Wilko for the English fans). What a guy, and without him I don’t know where I’d be today. My life without rugby is like Sydney without the opera, like rugby without the All Blacks (if he represented New Zealand, I would be totally satisfied).
As a French girl, supporting England is a tough job. I was 17 and a half and in Australia with my parents as part of a group of 60 people devoted to the Quinze de France. I was the only one sporting an England cap – and I took some flak: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself”, or “Sir, this is your daughter? Good luck.” We were back in France before the final, and let me tell you, when that English sweetheart scored that famous drop-goal against Australia, I was crying.
After Wilkinson got injured, I started supporting the All Blacks – sorry, Jonny. And so this weekend, the national hero of 2003 was back at Twickenham and was the national hero of February 3, 2007; one try, five penalties, a couple of conversions, a drop goal, a standing ovation and Man of the Match.
Who is your all-time sporting hero? Let us know at Sportingo.