Whatever happened to those great French players of the 1980s? Not the Blancos, Sellas and Riveses, but the Gallions, Dintrans and Condoms. Barry Mutuel catches up with the Narbonne Express and others...

Le Rugby takes a look back at the stars of the French team from the late ‘70s to the early ‘90s. We’ve left out the likes of Pierre Berbizier, Serge Blanco, Jean-Pierre Rives and Philipe Sella and give some limelight to their more unheralded teammates. Take a trip down chemin de mémoire and think back to a time of four point tries, the Five Nations and when all games kicked off at 2.30pm on a Saturday. Here’s a team that should jog a few memories.

15 – Jean-Luc Sadourny
Born in Toulouse in 1966, he gained 71 caps as a full back between 1991 and 2001 and was part of the victorious 1997 and 1998 Grand Slam teams. A pacy full back who liked coming into the line, he scored 14 tries. Sadourny had the unenviable task of replacing the retiring Serge Blanco. He played for his native Colomiers throughout his career, the high point being the narrow loss to Paris in the 2000 Championship Final. He’s since gone on to coach both Colomiers and Blagnac. He now finds himself in more humble surroundings, as backs coach at Fédérale 3 outfit Saint-Gaudiens.

14 – Patrick Esteve
Born in Lavelanet in 1959, the winger with two nicknames (the Narbonne Express and Le TGV) gained 25 caps on the wing between 1983 and 1988, scoring 12 tries. He was also part of the victorious Five Nations winning teams of 1983 and 1986. His club career started out at his hometown Stade Lavelanétien before he joined Narbonne. After eight successful seasons at the Parc des Sports et de l'Amitié, Esteve rejoined Lavelanet to serve as Club President between 1997 and 1998.

13 – Didier Codorniou
Born in Narbonne in 1958, the man dubbed Le Petit Prince won 31 caps in the centre between 1979 and 1985, scoring 5 tries. Although small in stature, he never took a backward step on the field. He scored the ultimately game-clinching try that secured Les Bleus their first win over the All Blacks in 1979 down in Auckland, and was also a key part of the 1982 Grand Slam team. He spent the majority of his club career with his beloved Narbonne, before leaving for a spell with Toulouse. He finished his playing days with Villefranche-de-Lauragais. He later went to serve as President of the Languedoc Roussillon Sports Commission.

12 – Denis Charvet
Born in Cahors in 1962, Charvet is renowned as being one of France’s classiest players, on and off the field. On the field, he won 23 caps in the centre between 1986 and 1991, scoring 6 tries. He played in the 1986 Five Nations winning team, as well as both the 1987 Grand Slam winning and RWC runner-up teams. His club career took him to Toulouse, Racing Club de France and finally Stade Francais. Off the field, he was responsible for creating the pricey clothing chain Eden Park in 1988, along with fellow Les Bleus Franck Mesnel and Eric Blanc.

11 – Patrice Lagisquet
Born in 1962 in Arcachon, the Bayonne Express won 46 caps as a winger between 1984 and 1991, scoring 20 tries. He won a Grand Slam in 1988 and the Five Nations championship in 1989, as well as being a part of the 1987 RWC team that lost to New Zealand in the final. He began his club career with Bègles, before moving on to Bayonne and Biarritz. On retiring from the latter in 1997, he took up the reins as coach. Eleven seasons, three Championship titles (2002, 2005 and 2006) and a Heineken Cup runners up spot (2005) later, he left to concentrate on his business activities.

10 – Didier Camberabero
Born in Valence in 1961, the son of legendary former French international Guy won 36 caps between 1982 and 1993 helping his country lift the 1983 Five Nations trophy. His tally dans le maillot bleu of 354 points is third only behind Christophe Lamaison and Thierry Lacroix. He just edged out Jean-Patrick Lescaboura in the battle for the coveted French fly half shirt. Unusually for the time, his club career was nomadic, taking in Beziers, Nimes, Grenoble and Perpignan. On retiring from club rugby he took over the backs coach role at Racing-Metro 92 however, left this post last year.

9 – Jérôme Gallion
Born in Toulon in 1955, he replaced the great Jacques Fouroux and went on to win 32 caps between 1978 and 1986, scoring 11 tries. His international highlights included a try scoring debut (against England) and finale (against Argentina), as well as being the Five Nations’ top try scorer in 1978 and 1984. A one club man who donned only the maillot of his beloved Toulon, he was a key part of their 1987 championship winning team, later serving as club president between 2000 and 2003. He now extracts pain on customers rather than opposing flankers working as a dentist in, where else, Toulon.

1 – Robert Paparembourde
Born in 1948 in Féas, the man mountain from Pau known to all as Patou won 55 caps between 1975 and 1983, scoring a record 8 tries as a prop. He captained his country five times, winning Grand Slams in 1977 and 1981, as well as a Five Nations title in 1983. The bear from the Pyrenees was once described as ‘a man with no neck and no interest in backing down’. Domestically, he spent seventeen of his eighteen years with his hometown Pau, leaving only for a final année au soleil with Racing Club de France (who would become Racing-Metro ’92). He stayed in Paris to coach Racing to the French championship in 1990. Vice President of the French Rugby Federation in 1991, he sadly died from cancer in 2001.

2 – Phillippe Dintrans
Born in 1957 in Tarbes (ho ho!), Dintrans won 50 caps as hooker between 1979 and 1990, scoring 3 tries. He was in a constant fight with Daniel Dubroca for the maillot numero deux. He was a part of the all-conquering 1981 Grand Slam team, as well as the 1989 Five Nations winning team. A proud Tarbais, he played for his hometown club throughout his career. He made his debut as an 18 year old and led his team to the Championship final in 1988 where they lost a six point briseur de coeur to Agen. The Dintrans legend lived on via his son Jean, who also turned out for Tarbes (ho ho!).

3 – Jean-Pierre Garuet
Born in Pontacq in 1953, the man dubbed Le Professeur propped for France on 42 occasions between 1983 and 1990, sadly only crossing the try line in his dreams. This grizzly, man mountain of a tight head played his part in France’s 1987 He was a key member of both the 1987 Grand Slam winning team and the 1989 Five Nations winning team. Another one club man, he played for Lourdes from 1974 until as a 38 year old in 1991 he decided he’d had enough and retired. He went on to be a selector for the French national team, more recently devoting his time to the duties of assistant mayor of Lourdes.

4 – Jean Condom
Born in 1960 in Saint-André-de-Seignanx, every schoolboy’s favourite lock gained 61 caps between 1982 and 1990, without ever crossing the try line. His honours included the 1987 Grand Slam, as well as Five Nations championships in 1983, 1986, 1988 and 1989. In 1985 he was party to a rare example of Irish humour. In reference to Irish lock Willie Anderson during France’s Five Nations clash at Lansdowne Road, a banner was spotted that read “Our Willie’s bigger than your Condom”. He began his club career with Stade Boucau before spending his best years at Biarritz. He ended his career with Bayonne.

5 – Alain Lorieux
Born in Seyssins in 1956, he won 30 caps between 1981 and 1989, scoring 3 tries. A key member of the 1987 Grand Slam team, he also won Five Nations titles in 1988 and 1989. He’s fondly remembered by the French for his part in France’s legendary 1987 RWC semi-final against Australia, scoring a try and fielding Serge Blanco’s speculative kick that ended with the corpulent one crossing in the corner for one of the great tries. He began his club career at Aix-les-Bains, before moving to Grenoble. He saw out his playing days back with his hometown club Racing Club Seyssins.

6 – Eric Champ
Born in Toulon in 1962, the hirsute one earned 42 caps between 1985 and 1991, scoring 3 tries. His dynamic play helped France win the 1987 Grand Slam, as well as excelling in that year’s RWC. A proud Toulonnais, he spent his whole career at the Stade Mayol, both as player and then as Club President. He’s gone on to forge a successful career both as a business consultant, and as a rugby commentator on the TF1 channel.

8 – Dominique Erbani
Born in 1956 in Agen, Erbani won 46 caps between 1981 and 1990, scoring 3 tries. A bruising ball carrier, he played an important part in the successes of the French team in the 1980s that included the 1987 Grand Slam, Five Nations Championships in 1983, 1986, 1988 and 1989, and the second place finish in the 1987 RWC. He spent his whole career with Agen, who experienced similar halcyon days during this period that saw them crowned as French Champions in 1982 and 1988.

7 – Jean-Luc Joinel
Born in Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse in 1953, he gained 51 caps between 1977 and 1987, scoring 1 try. He was an effective back of the line jumper who excelled dans le maillot bleu. His achievements include the 1981 Grand Slam, as well as Five Nations titles in 1983 and 1986. His swansong was the 1987 RWC final defeat to the All Blacks. Yet another one club man, he spent his whole career with Brive. His son Alban is a goalkeeper for Le Championnat new boys Lorient.