Remarkable referee dies
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Before France played Wales at Stade de France on Saturday, France paid its respects to remarkable rugby referee, Bernard Marie, the first Frenchman to referee a Five Nations - as it was then - match.
Marie was 96 when he died.
He achieved his refereeing fame by accident.
On 27 March 1965, France played Wales in Paris as they did 50 years later though then it was at Stade Colombes.
The referee for the match was Ron Gilliland of Ireland but he burst a blood vessel in his calf after 32 minutes in the first half and had to be replaced.
In those days the touch judges were not unatta…
Marie was 96 when he died.
He achieved his refereeing fame by accident.
On 27 March 1965, France played Wales in Paris as they did 50 years later though then it was at Stade Colombes.
The referee for the match was Ron Gilliland of Ireland but he burst a blood vessel in his calf after 32 minutes in the first half and had to be replaced.
In those days the touch judges were not unatta…
