He will have marked the history of world rugby. The Landais Benoît Dauga died at the age of 80, this Thursday, November 3, at 4 p.m. The former rugby international, born in Montgaillard, was sick for several years.
Nicknamed the Grand Ferré, it has 63 selections in the France team, of which he was nine times captain. He signed 11 tries in the jersey of the Blues, and he was notably one of the actors of the French victory during three Tournaments of the Five Nations, including a Grand Slam in 1968.
On January 12, 1975, the Landais is victim of a serious accident during a match against Stade Dijonnais, an accident that left him quadriplegic and put an end to his career. However, almost miraculously, he managed to walk again, after a long convalescence.
“He is THE legend of French rugby”
Benoît Dauga is one of those who had been nicknamed “the musketeers”with Guy Boniface, André Boniface and Christian Darrouy, four players from Stade Montois, who also played in the jersey of the XV of France.
“We have crossed all the seas of the world, we have come a long way together”, says Christian Darrouy. This former international remembers“An honest, reliable, reliable guy you can count on. He didn’t loosen up in matches.”. “He had huge hands”he describes with a laugh, “so when he closed them, it made a huge fist, you shouldn’t take it in the nose”.
“He was an honest, reliable, reliable guy, who you can count on.” — Christian Darrouy, former player of the France team
For Christian Darrouy, Benoît Dauga has left his mark in the history of his sport. “For me, Benoît is THE legend of French rugby”he explains. “We don’t forget players like that”adds the Dacquois, Pierre Albaladejo.
The former opening half of the Blues remembers“An impressive guy. He knew how to behave and we had a lot of respect for him. He was a sociable guy, always on the lookout for someone who needed something”he describes. “It was one of the leaders of the game of the time. He covered ground, he had the guts to do it.”
However, Benoît Dauga did not necessarily have the ideal physique to have the career he had. Some even found him too thin, recalls Pierre Albaladejo. But “he gave a lot, because he wasn’t a monster like you can see today. He was proportionate, he had big hands, he was skillful and brave.”