Lucien Mias, captain of the French XV of the 1950s and legend of French rugby, has died

The French rugby family has lost one of its captains. The French Rugby Federation announced, Monday May 13, the death of Lucien Mias, at the age of 93.

The second row wore the French XV jersey 29 times, including six times as captain, between 1951 and 1959, with whom he won the Five Nations Tournament in 1954 and 1959. At club level, it is under the colors of SC Mazamet (Tarn) where he played most often, reaching the final of the French championship in 1958.

“He left his mark on the history of French rugby with his exceptional talent and his unfailing dedication to this sport that he cherished so much,” underlined the FFR in a press release. “Natural leader, second line, nicknamed ‘Doctor Pack’, the immense Lucien Mias has left us”, for his part wrote Florian Grill, president of the FFR on the X network (formerly Twitter).

Lucien Mias, a schoolteacher who later became a doctor, began his international career in 1951 and notably contributed to the success of the Blues in the Five Nations Tournament in 1959, as well as to the victorious tour of South Africa. Following his playing career, he worked as a coach, manager but also commentator for the Blues.