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France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia | 8 comments | Create New Account

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France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Friday, September 19 2008 @ 10:38 am ACST

Just curious, where were the French players drawn from? There's quite a few new French clubs trying to get started, as well as the more established Paris and Strasbourg teams. Was France drawn from across some of those sides?

It would be quite a coup if they could stage any kind of footy event in Senegal.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia

Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Friday, September 19 2008 @ 11:38 am ACST

Most of the French players were from Bordeaux and Montpellier, plus I think two
or three from Strasbourg. Didn't see any Paris players on the list.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia

Authored by: Peter Parry
on Sunday, September 21 2008 @ 09:57 am ACST

I think this tournament will be looked back on as big news. The teams come from countries far behind on the footy development ladder and they played it almost is parallel to the IC. There's a lot of organisation if the Sth Americans did indeed come all the way from Sth America and weren't just Sth American expats in europe.

The big thing is they chose 9-a-side. With rising airline fuel costs and the more easy availability of soccer and rugby grounds - 9's is a much easier way to get teams together from distant places.

West Africa must be the champion athlete breeding ground for the world, is dirt poor and millions of kids looking for games to play. If they do play in Senegal and its driven by French speaking footy pioneers - another Sth Africa like boom could be repeated, with Usain Bolt like athletes to the AFL down the track.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia

Authored by: Brett Northey
on Sunday, September 21 2008 @ 01:37 pm ACST

I would be happy to hear otherwise, but I don't think there would have been anyone flying in from Africa or South America - I think it was an expat based tournament (not expat Aussie though). So good for Catalan and French footy, but whether it becomes a significant international tournament is one for the future.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN

France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia

Authored by: Aaron Richard
on Sunday, September 21 2008 @ 03:37 pm ACST

None made the trip from Africa or South America - all players in those teams are
people who live and play in Spain.

Apparently there has been some contact between the guys actually in Argentina
(ie Ricardo Acuna and his crew) and the guys from this tournament, but no
players.

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Brett Northey - Co-founder and Chief Editor of WFN