I am sure you know it is the rugby world cup!

Or in French la coupe du monde de rugby, but did you know that it started in 1987 and that it is the 8th world cup ( la huitième édition)?
It happens every 4 years ( tous les quatre ans), this year it is taking place in England ( en Angleterre)  and in Wales ( au Pays de Galles) and.... this afternoon, even before I have finished writing this blog France is going to play Ireland ( l'Irlande) at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff!

The world cup starts the first round with 4 groups ( les poules A, B, C, D) we then move on to the quarter finals ( les quarts de finale) then the semi-finals ( les demi-finales) and the final ( la finale).
Today , for the BIG  match (!!) le coup d'envoi ( the start of the match) is at 4.45pm ( 16h 45) so here we go, how do we call the various positions in French?
l'ailier: the wing
l'arrière: the full back
l'avant: the forward
le pilier: the prop
le talonneur: the hooker
le demi-d'ouverture: the fly half
le demi-de mêlée: the scrum half
le buteur: the striker
And how do we score?
le but: the goal
une pénalité: a penalty
marquer un essai: to score a try
la transformation: conversion
un drop goal....
And who checks and makes decisions?
Le juge de touche: the linesman
l'arbitre: the referee
I can only end this post by saying: Allez la France!!!!

Don't forget to look at Alliance Française de Bristol et Bath website as we have some activities coming up, for more info...