It’s a game of two halves: with one being rugby

 

Will Dean
Thursday 18 July 2013 20:58 EDT
Comments
A semi-rugby, semi-football game
A semi-rugby, semi-football game (AFP/Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Let’s give a very hearty thank-you to the professional sportsmen of the south of France for answering a question that precisely nobody was asking: what would it be like if a rugby and a football team played against each other?

On Wednesday The players of Toulon (rugby) and Marseille (football) – as part of a charity bash for children with cancer – met in a duel billed as Le Choc (The Shock). Marseille came out on top overall. Which means, scientifically, that football is much better.

The match, refereed by Eric Cantona for some reason, was one half football (which was won only 5-4 by Marseille) and a second half of rugby, with the footballers somehow managing to score a handful of tries to win 36-35. Including one by their physio. Which suggests the match wasn’t taken quite as seriously as it should have been.

Either way, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Time to see how Rio Ferdinand copes against Manu Tuilagi.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in