fromevalleyvoice
February, 2023
n NEWS
7
The site of Parisis Path, which has been named after the French rugby club, in Blackberry Park
Frampton and Parisis players at an English breakfast BBQ, with beer
FRAMPTON Cotterell’s international rugby connection has been recognised, with the naming of a footpath on a new housing estate. Parisis Path on the Blackberry Park estate in Coalpit Heath will be named after the French district, on the northern outskirts of Paris, which has had sporting connections with Frampton Rugby Football Club dating back 45 years. It began in 1977 when Frampton juniors travelled to Parisis to play a match. Since then the two communities have retained the connection, with twice-yearly return fixtures. To celebrate their 45th anniversary, the Parisis veterans team, Vieux Loups - which means Old Wolves in French came to Frampton for a special match between the clubs. The French vets took on their Frampton counterparts – and among the players were two
On the field the Fram vets won back the Victory trophy 30-12, so they keep the trophy until the next time they meet – in Parisis in November. The new name was confirmed by Westerleigh Parish Council, which covers the area and is changing its name to Westerleigh and Coalpit Health Parish Council this year. Parish clerk Sue Simmons
Path celebrates 'unique and wonderful' rugby link players who competed in the original match as teenagers: Frampton's Mike Weaver and Philippe Colin, of Parisis. Mike said that while today’s juniors from the two communities carry on the annual tradition, the older players also have a chance to play each other, in their respective veterans' teams. He said: “As players have got older the vets have carried on the rugby relationship also, and that has gone on for many years. “It's a truly unique and wonderful rugby relationship across two countries, and both teams enjoy the rugby, food and one or two beers and glasses of wine.” At the most recent meeting there was a breakfast barbecue and dinner celebration, where Vieux Loups captain Erik Vassell was presented with a mock-up of the Parisis Path street sign to take home to France.
said: "It is always good to involve the Community and at the point we were considering names for Blackberry Park in 2019, we were delighted that the rugby club attended and had such an interesting suggestion. “We are looking for another parish councillor and a new resident of Blackberry Park or nearby would be ideal.”
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(Mon to Fri, 8.30am-5pm) Erik Vassell, captain of the French vets team Vieux Loups, with mocked-up sign
Phillipe Colin and Mike Weaver played in the first match in 1977 as juniors and played in the Vets game in November 2022 – 45 years later.
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