Former Federale 1 fly-half Tomas Marks, snowed in with the weather-hit Wanderers, casts his mind back to pre-match rituals in the warmer climes of Le Bugue...

Winter Wonderland in Wales

We have had the heaviest snowfall since 1982 and it has stopped my last three fixtures in the Welsh Premiership. Now we face arch-rivals Cardiff on the 30th December - postponed from Monday - to save our season. We have not stopped training in the arctic conditions as we strive to get better as a team. Ah… I wish we had underground heating.

France through the eyes of Tomas

I have been asked on numerous occasions is French rugby dirtier than Welsh rugby and the answer is Yes. In Federal 1 being sinbinned or sent off was part of the game and it certainly made it more interesting for everyone involved in the game.

However the referees were a bit more cautious in France and a big hit from a Pacific Islander would result in a yellow card for illegal play. A white card is for a professional foul. Yes I know, why have two cards but that’s the French for you, c’est comme ca mon ami.

Another of French rugby traditions is the pre-match ritual. First of all the games were played on a Sunday - Euan Murray would have been snookered playing in France! For a home match we used to have a team run in the morning followed by a three-course meal with all first team, second team and club staff.

For you food lovers the entrée was tomato salad with vinigarette, plat du jour was chicken breast with pasta and butter over the pasta not olive oil, yoghurt for dessert and a strong cup of coffee to finish.

As Aisake Tarogi used to say you have to finish with something warm to help the digestion, but he was a 20-stone prop and so I just agreed with his Fijian view.

However the French grenouilles would have a cigarette with coffee to calm the nerves. Everyone would then play some cards, read the Sud Ouest newspaper and listen to some music. We had an eclectic taste in music, with all the different nationalities at Le Bugue enjoying different sounds. The Fijians would listen to readings from the bible, the Gitans of the team would listen to the Gipsy Kings, Samoans would play Bob Marley, the Algerians Lionel Richie, Bonnie Tyler and Charlie Winson and the French would be listening to anything from the 80s and American rapper Pitbull.

The warm up was exactly the same except the French boys would like a cube of sugar and a sprinkling of spirit before entering the field of play. Mad yes, diuretic yes but what a spirit they had.

More tales from France and reports from the Welsh Premiership in 2011.

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee.

Tomas