Le Coq

A definitive and affectionate history of French rugby published to coincide with 6 Nations in Feb 2023 and France hosting the Rugby World Cup in Sept/Oct 2023



'An impassioned tour around France which is best enjoyed with a bottle of red ... or two.' - The Sunday Times

'I've known Peter for some years and I'm sure you will enjoy his personal journey to the heart of rugby in this superb country.' - Dan Carter, Former All Black and Rugby World Cup winner


'Bills' wondrous travelogue features so many great tales from the mouths of legends.' - Irish Independent


'I really enjoyed this book ... A great memoir of France and its people through the eyes of rugby.' - Michael Lynagh, TV analyst and Australian Rugby World Cup winner


'Wonderful! This is a great read. I simply loved it and I am sure that many others will also.' - Bob Dwyer, Australian World Cup winning coach 1991


From French rugby's origins in Le Havre, (as an English export in the late nineteenth century) to the Catalan coast, acclaimed rugby writer Peter Bills travels the length and breadth of this vast country visiting not only the big cities but those regional heartlands of the game such as Toulouse, Bordeaux and Clermont as well as clubs in the Basque country, to reveal a country whose deep love of rugby has created a culture and playing style like no other.


Featuring exclusive interviews with many of the greatest international players to have played club rugby in France, from Ronan O'Gara to Dan Carter, as well as French legends of the sport, from Serge Blanco and Jean-Pierre Rives to Antoine Dupont, Le Coq: A Journey to the Heart of French rugby brings to life the passion, colour, excitement, characters, anecdotes, locations and great moments of French rugby's near 150 years of existence, just as it prepares to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup.


Former French Grand Slam captain Jacques Fou 'The Rugby, the game, the life': this book will show you exactly what he meant.