René Biénès (2 August 1923 – September 2009) was a French international
rugby union
Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...
player.
A native of
Toulouse
Toulouse (, ; ; ) is a city in southern France, the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Haute-Garonne department and of the Occitania (administrative region), Occitania region. The city is on the banks of the Garonne, River Garonne, from ...
, Biénès was an international level javelin thrower and didn't pick up rugby until after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, during which he was decorated with both the
Médaille militaire
The ''Médaille militaire'' (, "Military Medal") is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, ...
and
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
. He had been involved with the French resistance and later served with the
1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment
The 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment () is the oldest and among the most decorated airborne forces regiments of the French Army. Established in the French Army in 1943, and formerly part of the French Air Force since 1937, the chasseur distinguishe ...
after Toulouse was
liberated.
Biénès started out with
SC Graulhet
The Sporting club graulhetois, or SC Graulhet, is a rugby union French club based in Graulhet ( Tarn). Founded in 1910, it play in Fédérale 2, the fourth level of French rugby union.
History
Founded in 1910, played in the Pyrénées regional ...
, before joining top division team
US Cognac
Union Sportive Cognaçaise is a French rugby union club, based in Cognac in the Charente département (Nouvelle-Aquitaine region). They play at the Parc des Sports (capacity 2,800), and wear white and red.
They were founded on 2 December 1898 an ...
in 1947. His international career consisted of 29 caps for France between 1950 and 1956. He was utilised mainly as a prop and captained France on their
1954 tour of South America, where he was the team's top try scorer across all fixtures.
See also
*
List of France national rugby union players
List of France national rugby union players is a list of people who have played for the France national rugby union team. The list only includes players who have played in a Test match.
Note that the "position" column lists the position at w ...
References
External links
*
René Biénèsat Fédération Française de Rugby
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bienes, Rene
1923 births
2009 deaths
French rugby union players
France international rugby union players
Rugby union players from Toulouse
Rugby union props
US Cognac players
Sporting Club Graulhetois players
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
French Resistance members
French Army personnel of World War II