El Mundo Sports

The idea of watching a rugby match in France never really crossed my mind until my friends mentioned there’s a really good team in Paris. And they wear pink. “Come again?” I said with a bewildered look on my face. My friend exclaims that a very eccentric man bought the team – known as Stade Français - and he loves the color pink. So, what does he do? He buys the players dark blue uniforms with pink flowers embroidered all over them to wear when they play at home, and pink kits to wear when they travel. In addition, he painted the goalposts at each end of the field pink, making it look more like a spring meadow from a fairytale than a rugby pitch. Interesting to say the least.

With a friend in the States that’s an avid rugby player, I have recently made the effort to learn the game. The rules are pretty simple – with the exception of a few – and the goal is to score more points thanyour opponent via try’s, conversions, drop goals, and penalty kicks. Players can’t throw the ball forward, so ground can only be gained by running with the ball or kicking it. Other than that, it’s really just a bunch of barbarians running into each other, screaming their heads off to intimidate their opponents. Does it work? Especially when one team is wearing sky blue jerseys and the other pink?

I had to find out!

There’s always that initial moment right before walking into a stadium that brings chills to my skin. Especially when I’m about to experience something so incredibly different from the sports I grew up watching and playing in the States. A few weeks ago, I was in Barcelona, and went to a Barcelona FC (vs Espanyol) soccer match at Camp Nou. I remember vividly the moment walking into the stadium. I knew I was at a soccer Mecca and could feel the history upon entrance. This was a little different.

As the players ran out onto the field - pink flower embroidered jerseys and all - I couldn’t help but wonder how they felt dawning such a rare (and often considered feminine) color while playing one of toughest sports in the world. To them, it didn’t seem to matter. It was almost as if they thrived on it.

The venue was small and intimate, sort of like an Ivy League stadium for American football in the States. With chants in French, that I couldn’t understand, the crowd cheered every move by their beloved flower bearers. Stade Français was playing a lesser opponent - Bourgeon – and it was evident from the beginning. Stade’s defense stifled Bourgeon’s offense, not letting them even close to the try line. Each time Stade got the ball back, it seemed as though the opponents were on their heels and couldn’t handle the pressure, cracking so often it became comical.

An interesting side note: Normally in sports during time outs, trainers run out onto the field to give the players water and/or a sports drink to keep them hydrated. At this game, a cleverly painted – pink of course – remote control monster truck was driven onto the field to give the players water. I must say, the guy controlling the car has probably the best job in the world. Ok maybe besides a professional punter in the NFL, solely because he probably makes more money. How do you sign up to a professional remote control car driver for a rugby team in France? Do they have tryouts? How much does he get paid? Hhhmmm…so many important questions.

OK, back to reality. My mind likes to wonder sometimes, and I have to let it do its thing.

As in all sports around the world, fans dawn the team colors and wave flags in support of their brave warriors. The fans of Stade Français, decked out in pink, were no different. Kids wore pink scarves, parent’s sported pink hats with three lightning bolts (official symbol of the team), and even older patrons came to the game with pink shirts in a show of support.

No matter where I go in this big world, whenever I attend a sporting event, there’s always a common theme. Fans always show support in the best way they know how. Even though we may speak different languages, sport different cultures, and live different lives, we always show up with our cheering hats on.

From that perspective, I guess we all wear pink.

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