Pierre Guillemin

Racing Club de France (RCF) v Stade Français in 1906. RCF in blue and white stripes.

Guillemin had been playing as a forward for Racing Club de France (RCF) in the Championnat de Paris since 1906 when he got the opportunity to trial for France.[1][5] Ahead of the international matches against the Home Nations teams in 1908, the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA) organised two matches. The first was a North of France versus South match, after which a France team was formed to play against the Rest of France on 22 December at the Stade du Matin in Colombes. Guillemin was selected for the Rest.[6] Ahead of the game, Reichel in Le Figaro gave France the odds of winning, since it had a heavier pack and better halfbacks, and also commented positively on Duval, Bonhomme and Guillemin.[7] The Rest of France won 12–6. The cohesion of the Rest's threequarter line, all coming from Stade Français, was especially apparent, while the forwards, although weaker in the scrum, and lighter, played with more "valour". As a result, many changes were made for the team to play England on 1 January 1908: the captain, Marc Giacardy, was dropped altogether, and Guillemin was one of several who won selection.[8]

France hosted England at Colombes on 1 January 1908 for the third rugby encounter between the two nations. Although France lost the game 0–19, the press did not consider it a crushing defeat,[lower-alpha 4] given that on the previous occasions England had scored 35 points and then 41. During the first half, two French players departed the field injured, so that by the second half, England had the advantage in numbers and were able to control the game, which at the start had appeared (to the French press) to be well-balanced. The forwards were considered to be at least equal to, if not better, than the English.[9] Guillemin and Duval amongst the forwards, as well as the backs Hubert and Moure, drew praise from Reichel.[10]

Guillemin was selected for the next game between Wales and France on 2 March in Cardiff, Wales. It was the first official match played between the two nations and 20,000 spectators turned up to watch. It was clear from the start that Wales was by far the stronger team, scoring in the first three minutes and leading 17–4 at half time. By the end of the game, the home team had scored nine tries, three of which were converted, and a penalty; France managed to score just one drop-goal, although it was considered "magnificent".[11]

Guillemin then played a series of matches for le Sporting Club de Madrid, made up of current and former pupils, against Trinity College, Cambridge, the first of which was held on 3 March at Cambridge, and a return match on 26 March at Parc des Princes.[12][13]

Guillemin was selected to play the touring Australians on 2 January 1909,[14][15] but the match was cancelled due to bad weather.[16]

In the trials match for the 1910 Five Nations Championship, Guillemin was selected to play for the Possibles against the Probables. The Probables won a close game 9–6,[17] and Guillemin was selected again to play for France. The fourth match between England and France was held at Leicester on 30 January 1909. The English dominated from the start but the French put up a good fight, as both the English and French press reported. The French forwards were compared in their style of play with those of Ireland, with good footballing skills. Although the English won a fourth successive victory, 22–0, it seemed as though the French game was beginning to develop.[18]

On New Year's Day 1910, Wales hosted the French team, several of whose players were unable to attend due to the annual celebrations. For Wales, the match in Swansea was merely a "splendid preliminary canter", and the home side was very much favourite to win.[19] It was only the third match between the two nations: the first, held at Cardiff in 1908, had proved popular due to the novelty. After the easy Welsh victory over France in Paris in 1909, there was very little interest in the match in 1910 and few spectators turned up. Wales scored the first try from an intercepted pass in the first three minutes of the game but the French responded immediately with a try of their own. Nevertheless, despite the Welsh appearing not to take the game seriously, the Welsh lead at half-time of 21–14 and ended with a score of 49–14.[20]

Scotland selected its best team for the encounter with France on 22 January at Inverleith, the first time it gave full international recognition to a French team. The French backs were said to be "very fast",[21] but the Scottish forwards far outplayed the French and the final score was 27–0.[22]

On 3 March, France played host to England at the Parc des Princes. England were victorious but it was a good contest, with the final score 3–11. The French defended well, but England scored two tries and a conversion and were leading 0–8 at half time. After the break, the French played with "dash and spirit", repeatedly coming close to scoring until, with 20 minutes to go, Guillemin chased a long kick from Lesieur and scored a try,[lower-alpha 5] which went unconverted. For the final ten minutes, with an injury to Lane, France held on with fourteen men on the field.[23] The French press was delighted not to have witnessed another crushing defeat, comparing the result with England's recent score of 11–6 against Wales. As well as having improved in the ability to play the game, the fitness of the players was much improved, and they were able to keep going right to the end.[24] The annihilation anticipated for the second half did not come, with each side scoring three points, Guillemin amongst the best of the French forwards.[25]

The French team for the England-France match on 28 January 1911. Guillemin is in the middle of the back row.

For the trials match between the Probables and the Possibles on 18 December 1910 at Colombes, Guillemin played for the Probables and was then selected for France. G. Neumeyer writing in la Culture physique, considered that the selectors had made the right choice of XV, with the exception of Guillemin. In his opinion, it was deplorable that he should be selected, noting his "remarkable brutality", proof of which he demonstrated in the trials match, and that he ought to be thrown out of the national team for all time.[26][lower-alpha 6] Reichel in Le Figaro agreed that Guillemin's play was more violent than effective and would have preferred the selection of Berneron, who did "great work" for the Possibles.[27]

Guillemin was a member of the team that beat Scotland at Colombes in 1911 and won France's first victory in the Five Nations. After all the previous French losses to the Home Nations teams, the Scottish were favourites to win, and France's unexpected win was considered a great occasion by the French press. It proved a reversal of the defeats, accompanied with humiliating press commentary which suggested that the French were too idle and debauched to produce a team worthy of their British opponents.[28][29]

After unexpectedly winning the match against Scotland, France played England at Twickenham on 28 January and suffered "the most humiliating of defeats".[30] The Observer noted the speed of the French players, which caused the English some trouble, but there was a lack of cohesion in the midfield. The fullback, Dutour, was singled out as the best French player, whose kicking saved the French repeatedly, while in the forwards, Guillemin was especially noted for his defending.[31]

On 28 February, 20,000 spectators, a huge crowd for French rugby,[32][lower-alpha 7] turned out to watch the game against Wales. Although the Welsh went on to win 0–15, with three converted tries, they were prevented from scoring in the first half. They were clearly the better team, but the French played with greater passion. Once again, while Neumeyer praised the French forwards, he singled out Guillemin for criticism, creating an imbalance in the French scrum.[33] The Chronique de la Jeunesse, however, highlights Guillemin's dribbling with the ball.[34] Nevertheless, for the final international match of the season against Ireland, Guillemin was dropped from the team, with approval from Reichel,[35] although he nevertheless travelled to Cork as a replacement.[36]

Guillemin was selected for an international match between the best of London and the best of Paris, played at Stade de France on 12 March.[37] Reichel disapproved of Guillemin's selection and suggested the Parisian front row was rather weak.[35] In the event, London won 17–21 in an end-to-end contest,[38] in which both sides scored five tries, but London managed to convert three, while Paris only one.[39]

Guillemin's final plaudit came as part of the team that played Stade Toulousain in the final of the Championnat de France, and finished runner-up. Although favourites to win and leading 0–6 at half time, the visitors were narrowly beaten 8–6.[40]

• Godwin, Terry (1987). The Complete Who's Who of International Rugby. Poole: Blandford Press. ISBN 0713718382.
• McCrery, Nigel (2014). Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1473833210.