The English Advertising Agencies Rugby Club

The EAARFC was founded in 1983. The prime purpose of the club is to play an annual advertising rugby "international" against the French Advertising Agencies. This is the only regular sporting event between the two industries.

The rules of engagement are simple. Each year the visiting team arrives at an appointed location with return tickets home for Sunday evening - everything that happens in between is the responsibility of the host club.

 

The Advertising Rugby 'International'

Two matches are played - the main 'international' is preceded by an Advertising 'Barbarians' match which was first played in 1994 when the number of players interested in getting involved was sufficient for two full teams, plus adequate subs.

We play in June - partly because the French season does not finish until the end of May and partly to ensure, as far as possible, good weather for a weekend which is much more than just a rugby event, although rugby is the centrepiece.

Due to the heavy demands of the UK season, even on amateur players, the EAARFC plays just once, although we sometimes also manage a fixture against our friends and colleagues, The Media Nomads.

We take a Corinthian approach, fielding a 1st XV primarily based on players from clubs at around London 1/2 level - qualifying players in National League teams rarely get released although they are very welcome. Training in Battersea Park takes place once in the week before the match and delivers a tremendous turnover boost to a very good local Tandoori restaurant.

In sharp contrast, The Rugby Club de la Publicité now plays a full season of regular fixtures in the Paris Business League, partly because there seem to be fewer club rugby opportunities in that part of France and partly because Paris is compact enough to enable players from all over the city to turn up approximately on time for home and away matches. We therefore pitch English flair against French organisation - an unusual turnaround.

Whatever the composition of the teams, this advertising rugby weekend offers two seriously competitive matches and a famously sociable atmosphere afterwards, as players, members, guests, restaurateurs and hoteliers will all aver. It is rugby at its very best.

Many good business contacts and lasting friendships have been made as a result of this unique industry event which brings together people who love rugby - and advertising.