René Jean (20 April 1931 – 17 April 2024) was a French

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

player and coach. He played as a halfback. During his entire career, he played for

Avignon Avignon (, , ; or , ; ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the left bank of the river Rhône, the Communes of France, commune had a ...

, with which he won the

Lord Derby Cup The Coupe de France Lord Derby (), or just Coupe Lord Derby ('Lord Derby Cup'), is the premier knockout competition for the sport of rugby league football in France, as well as the name of its championship trophy. The tournament was first conte ...

in 1955 and 1956, as well disputing the

French Championship The French rugby league championship () was the top tier of the French rugby league system from its inception in 1934 until 2002 when the league was split into two divisions; the Elite One Championship and Elite Two Championship. In all seasons ...

final in 1957. Thanks to his club performances, he represented

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

9 times between 1956 and 1959, taking part at the

1957 Rugby League World Cup The 1957 Rugby League World Cup was the second World Cup held for men’s national rugby league teams and was held between 15 and 25 June and hosted by Australia. Table toppers Australia were the winners as there was no Final at this World Cup. ...

Biography

Jean was called up for the

France national team France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

to play the

alongside his teammates Augustin Parent, Jacques Merquey and Jean Rouqueirol. He also played for SO Avignon at club level, alongside Jacques Merquey, André Savonne, Jean Rouqueirol,

Guy Delaye Guy Delaye is a French former professional rugby league footballer who represented France in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, as a . Career Delaye, then playing for Marseille XIII, was called up to play the 1954 Rugby League World Cup which ...

and Jacques Fabre. Jean died on 17 April 2024, three days before his 93rd birthday.

Honours

Rugby league

* Team honours: **

: Champion in 1955 and 1956 (

), Runner-up in 1958 and 1959 (Avignon) **

: Runner-up in 1957 (Avignon)

References

External links

René Jean profile
at rugbyleagueproject.com 1931 births 2024 deaths French rugby league players Rugby league halfbacks Rugby league players from Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Sporting Olympique Avignon players Sportspeople from Vaucluse US Entraigues XIII coaches US Entraigues XIII players {{France-rugbyleague-bio-stub