Rugby league's resistance man

Paul Barrière died in 2008. He died before the Rugby League World Cup was named after him. Australia will win the tournament on November 19. The Kangaroos have won eight of the past nine competitions. France qualified for two world cup finals in his lifetime.

Barrière won the trophy named after him in 1939. He was playing rugby union for Espéraza in the Aude when the war started. The Ligue Française de Rugby à Treize was founded in 1934. By 1938, 225 French rugby clubs had switched to rugby league. Rugby league was popular in France before the Second World War. It was followed by a period of political turmoil. Many rugby players were at the forefront of protests. The Internationale was sung by the players of Narbonne. After the invasion of France, the German invasion and Vichy, rugby saw its chance for revenge.