Cooch's Six Nations Guide - France

Vive Le France

In the months leading up to the 2010 Six Nations we are doing a quick tour round the Six Nations grounds and chatting to former England and British Lions prop, and Gullivers spokesperson, Gareth 'Cooch' Chilcott. Gareth knows one or two things about rugby touring and gives us his recommendations on where you should go pre and post match. Next up Stade de Francais...

Say what you want about the French, and if you’re a Brit you normally would, but they know their rugby and they know how to host a party. “France is the team to beat. The team that can win against France, in France, is the team that normally goes on the win the Six Nations,” says Gareth Chilcott.

The French have a great system worked out to get everyone to Stade de France. It’s only three stops on the Metro from the heart of Paris. From Gare du Nord, the trains arrive every few minutes and the direct journey to Stade de France only takes about 10 minutes. Whilst there are not many and once you’re there you are in one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world. Stade de France is a superb example of Gallic Flare and modern French architecture and really is a magnificent theatre for sporting events.

You’re almost guaranteed a great game of rugby as the French have been consistent for the last ten years, and the players always know that they’ve had a game with they’ve come up against their Gallic brothers. Once back in Paris, there is a restaurant and bar on almost every block, and with the French being the French the standard is always high.

Bear with Balls and Mauls for a minute hear because we’ve got a bit of a radical idea – why not take your girlfriend/wife/mistress/boyfriend along with you for the weekend?

Now don’t throw the laptop on the floor and stamp on it, just listen. You could have a romantic weekend away AND get to watch a game of rugby. How could anyone refuse that great offer 80 minutes of rugby for a whole weekend in gay Paris? And here’s how you do it. Walk up to your non rugby interested partner and say: “How about a lovely weekend in Paris, you know, just before Spring it’ll cold and crisp and really romantic – I’ll book it up don’t you worry.”

Then when the tickets arrive be as surprised as they’ll be that the hotel sent you two ‘complimentary tickets’ to the game! Jobs a good ‘un. Or you could just be one of the lucky ones and have a better half that likes rugby.

Gulliver’s Sports Travel are offering tours to France for when they play England. The price starts at £395 for two nights in a hotel, travel there and back on the Eurostar and a ticket to the game.

2010 Six Nations games in France
France v Ireland - Sat 13th Feb 2010 17:30
France v Italy - Sun 14th Mar 2010 15:30
France v England - Sun 20th Mar 2010 20:45