Rugby: more than 500 people at the funeral of André Boniface in the Landes

The former iconic center of Mont-de-Marsan and the XV of France, André Boniface, legend of French rugby, died last week at the age of 89 at Bayonne hospital. His funeral took place this Monday, April 15 in Montfort-en-Chalosse, his native village, in the presence of more than 500 people, several media report. Personalities from the world of rugby, former players or managers, came to the Landes. Among them, we found Thomas Castaignède, a child of the club, Jo Maso (who considered him his “big brother”), Serge Blanco, Pierre Berbizier, Philippe Sella, but also Raphaël Ibanez, Olivier Roumat, Laurent Rodriguez and Abdelatif Benazzi. The politician Jean Glavany, close to André Boniface, was also present.

Lionel Jospin's former Minister of Agriculture gave a long speech, of which Midi Olympique reported long extracts. “Lowering your head means looking at yourself, reducing your field of vision. Raising your head means looking further, observing the opposing defense to spot openings and make the best possible passes. Raising your head is a philosophy of life, and today, it's thanks to you that I'm teaching my political science students to raise their heads from their screens. Yes, “Dédé”, you taught many of us to raise our heads.” And to conclude: “You will be able to hold hands with Guy, make cross passes to him, play a two-on-one and thinking of you, we will say to ourselves that they have returned to the time when they were so happy…”

Four current Stade Montois players (Jules Even, Léo Banos, Yann Brethous and Mathys Bats) wore the black flocked t-shirt after his death - with his famous phrase on the chest "Aesthetics do not harm efficiency" and his number 12 on his back - and carried the coffin of the man who revolutionized the attacking game and who is the founding father of “French flair”. André Boniface was buried in the family vault, alongside his brother Guy, who died tragically in a car accident in 1968.

Center of genius of the XV of France associated with his brother, André Boniface won four Five Nations Tournaments. He also won a French championship title in 1963 and three Yves-du-Manoir Challenges with Stade Montois, his lifelong club. A minute of applause was observed Thursday and Friday on the Pro D2 lawns in his memory. At the stadium which bears his name and that of his brother Guy, who died prematurely in a road accident in 1968, there were numerous tributes last Friday. And, in the process, Stade Montois scored a brilliant victory against Biarritz Olympique (38-7), scoring five tries.