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As applied to Rugby Union, the expression French flair refers to the distinctive French players’ unconventional, creative and fast-paced style, characterised in particular by counterattacks from deep and intuitive passes.
This expression occurs, for example, in an account of the match between Ireland and France that was played at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on Saturday 11th February 2023—account by John Brennan, published in the Sunday World (Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland) of Sunday 12th February 2023 [page 70, column 2]:
Thomas Ramos kicked penalties for the visitors as they used that physical power to force the issue with Ireland.
Yet it was old-style French flair that gave Fabien Galthie’s team the lead back.
Les Bleus ran the length of the pitch with brilliant handling for Damien Penaud to get the try of the Championship so far.
These are, in chronological order, the earliest occurrences of French flair (as applied to Rugby Union) that I have found:
—Note: This expression was apparently first used—if not coined—by the British sports journalist Michael Melford (1916-1999):
1-: From an account of the Rugby-Union match between England and France that was played at Twickenham on Saturday 23rd February 1957—account by Michael Melford, published in The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post (London, England) of Monday 25th February 1957 [page 3, column 1]:
FAMILIAR FLAIR
Seizing on ErrorsThe familiar French flair for seizing on an opponent’s error to turn defence into attack was still there, all the more powerful since England in their long period of forward pressure looked somewhat vulnerable to the surprise breakaway.
Thus came the fine French try—the first points scored against England this season—and also a final sally to the English line which made the lead of three tries to a goal look a puny thing indeed.
2-: From an account of the Rugby-Union match between London and Paris that was played at the Parc des Princes on Sunday 10th November 1957—account by Michael Melford, published in The Daily Telegraph and Morning Post (London, England) of Monday 11th November 1957 [page 4, column 7]:
The afternoon was grey, the ground firm and there was ample scope for the French flair for picking up the loose ball and leaping into top gear all in one movement.
3-: From the Liverpool Daily Post (Liverpool, Lancashire, England) of Wednesday 25th October 1961 [page 12, column 7]:
RUGBY SURVEY
Spence is back with Chester
By Derek Jewell[…]
Under the fine leadership of George Cox, Chester are […] likely to a have a touch of French flair about their football in future if full back Mike Lord has anything to do with it. Lord, an apprentice engineer with De Havillands, has just been on a course in the south of France and has been playing successfully at centre with a club in Toulouse.
4-: From Yanks are going Rugby crazy says the ref., by Pat Marshall, published in the Daily Express (London, England) of Monday 12th November 1962 [page 15, column 7]:
Paris, Sunday.—United States Rugby enthusiasts are to seek French help in developing their game. After watching Paris beating London 14—11 at Stade Charlety yesterday I am not surprised.
[…] Englishman Cecil Jackson, once an Old Dunstonian “A” player and now top New York referee and leading member of America’s Eastern Rugby Union, […] thinks that with the right encouragement and coaching, 10 years from now, America will be able to take on and wallop any of the Home Unions.
“That,” he added, “is why we are looking to the French to help. They play the kind of game Americans can better learn from.”
It was easy to get Jackson’s point after seeing London plummet to their seventh inter-city defeat in 10 years.
Leaden-footed orthodoxy and slow thinking is no counter to French flair and trigger reflexes.
5-: From an account of the England Rugby-Union trial match that was played at Torquay, Devon, on Saturday 12th January 1963, published in The Coventry Evening Telegraph (Coventry, Warwickshire, England) of Saturday 12th January 1963 [Football section, page 5, column 5]—Brian Wightman (1936-1999) was an international Rugby-Union player from 1959 to 1963:
Wightman was showing a French flair in the set scrums by frequently picking up the ball himself and running.
6-: From The Evening News and Star (London, England) of Friday 8th January 1965 [page 19, column 1]:
FRANCE HAVE THE FLAIR
By Bob TrevorPower is the prize at Stade Colombes, Paris, where France and Scotland raise the curtain on the exciting New Era of international rugby tomorrow.
The new Laws, emphasising attack will be seen for the first time in the Five Nations Championship, and on paper, France should be the main beneficiaries.
French flair, backed by superb athleticism and powers of improvisation, has not had the effect it might have on Britain. We are tradition-bound.
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