Paris is certainly a fascinating and culturally vibrant city - and as any sports fan will know, it's also a city with strong links to the world of international rugby. School rugby tours to France's capital can enjoy all the same cultural sights and experiences as any other trip, but can also appreciate the added dimension of facing off against some of France's teams in a country renowned for its quality of the sport. With the Charles de Gaulle airport and Calais nearby, Paris makes an ideal base to allow your team to develop both on and off the field.
Stade de France
The national stadium of France, the Stade de France, is situated just north of Paris, and makes a wonderful visit for students on school rugby tours. Inaugurated in 1998 with a football game between France and Spain, it's easy to see how the stadium has gone from strength to strength. With a seating capacity of over 80,000, the stadium is the eighth largest in Europe, and has played host to games of the highest calibre, including the 1999 and 2007 rugby world cups. It's also the home of both the French national football and rugby teams, and once tour groups have had the chance to inspect the facilities, it's not hard to see why.
Stade Français
Another stadium very much worth a visit during your school rugby tours is the Stade Jean-Bouin, home to the famous Stade Français rugby club. One of the most successful clubs of the modern era, it's certainly worth learning about for anyone interested in the modern clubs and leagues of rugby. Stade Français plays in the Top 14 domestic league in Paris, although they have a long and colourful history. The club participated in the very first French championship final in 1892, and won numerous titles during the development of the sport in the 1900's. It makes for an interesting lead in to further history study while on your trip, as the abstract details of the period can become quite relevant to how the game was seen and played.
What's in a name?
An interesting observation to make on school rugby tours is that of the name 'Stade Français' - in the 1800's, many emerging sports clubs were both modelled and named after their English counterparts, so a club named 'Stade', as a reminder of the athletic accomplishments of Ancient Greece, took on a new symbolism for the club.
Aiden Armstrong works for Pavilion Tours, a specialist travel service for schools, colleges and youth groups with a specific focus on school rugby tours as well as adventure, performing arts and geography. Pavilion Tours offer both local and international tours covering a variety of programmes.
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