André Boniface, French rugby legend, died at 89 – Libération

2024-04-08 11:45:02

International symbol of “French flair”, unpredictable and daring combinations, the former three-quarter center of Mont-de-Marsan and the XV of France during the 1950s and 1960s passed away this Monday, April 8.

The esthete of cross passes is no more. Former French international rugby player (48 caps, 44 points scored, 11 tries) André Boniface died at the age of 89, this Monday, April 8, at Bayonne hospital. Winner four times of the Five Nations tournament (1954, 1955, 1959 and 1962) with the XV of France, he is one of the world legends of his sport. In 2005, he became the sixth and last French player to join the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

The myth of the “Boni brothers”

A genius center and winger, André Boniface was associated 17 times in the French team with his little brother Guy, who died prematurely in 1968 in a road accident. Together, the “Boni” are reinventing the back pass game thanks to their inventiveness and their thirst for movement. They help create the myth of the French style of play, “French flair”, made of unpredictable and daring combinations.

Their attacking play was so striking and influential that the sports journalist Antoine Blondin would have attributed to them the paternity, no doubt fantasized, of the cross pass. This gesture, now used worldwide, consists of a player passing the ball to a teammate in the opposite direction to his own movement, in order to unbalance the opposing defense.

Champions of France in 1963

After several turbulent periods in Blue, the two Montois were permanently excluded from the selection in March 1966 following a defeat against Wales (9-8) in Cardiff. With Jean Gachassin, author of a bell pass for André Boniface intercepted by a Welshman, the three players were designated responsible for this defeat by their Federation, which ended their international careers.

André and Guy Boniface also take part in the great times of the Stade Montois. Together they won the title of French champion in 1963 against neighbor and enemy Dax, as well as three Yves-du-Manoir Challenges in a row (1960, 1961 and 1962). Player of Mont-de-Marsan from 1952 to 1972, André Boniface was also the club’s coach, twice, between 1969 and 1972 and from 1977 to 1978. Retired in Hossegor since the sale of his sporting goods store in Mont-de-Marsan in 1993, he was the father of three children.