1936 FIRA Tournament


A rugby union tournament was held in May 1936, three months prior to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Rugby union had been an official Olympic sport in 1900, 1908, 1920 and 1924, but was dropped from the Olympic program after the 1924 Paris Games. The 1936 tournament is not mentioned in the official report of the organising committee of the Berlin Games, and has never been given the status of an official demonstration sport for those Games.
Four teams competed in the 1936 tournament, which was considered one of the "best organized and most international rugby tournaments to date". France defeated Germany in the final.

Teams

French players

Forwards : Francis Daguerre, André Goyard, André Rochon, Étienne Ithurra, M. Laurent, François Raynal, Louis Dupont, Lucien Cognet.
Backs : Pierre Thiers, Georges Libaros, Maurice Celhay, Joseph Desclaux , Jean Coderc, Pierre Geschwind, Maurice Savy.
Substitutes : R. Lombarteix, Prud'homme, R. Arotca, J. Dorot, J. Blond, J. Fau, F. Raynaud, F. Sahuc, M. Capendeguy.
Managers : René Crabos, Jean Semmartin and Lanusse.

German players

Forwards : M. Schroers, K. Metzger, E. Derleth, Erwin Thiesies, H. Kocher, A. Koch, W. Pfisterer, O. Oppermann.
Backs : K. Loos, H. Hanning, K. Hübsch, H. Schwanenberg , W. Zichlinski, W. Dünnhaupt, G. Isenberg.
Substitutes : A. Aue, W. Roth, F. Bukowski.
Manager : ?.

Italian players

Forwards : Tommaso Fattori, S. Bonfante, G. Zoffoli, A. Albonico, Vincenzo Bertolotto, G. Visentin, I. Aloisio, A. Re-Garbagnati.
Backs : M. Campagna , G. Piana, R. Maffioli, F. Vinci III, G. Rizzoli, A. Cazzini, R. Centinari.
Substitutes : O. Maestri, E. Sgorbati, Vigliana, Ardissone, Pinardi.
Manager : Michel Boucheron.

Romanian players

Forwards : I. Tarabega, G. Fantaneanu, S. Ionescu, S. Barsan, S. Burlescu, G. Ionescu, E. Marculescu, C. Beju.
Backs : A. Marasescu, N. Crissoveloni, A. Damian, I. Popa, C. Grigorescu, I. Irimia, C. Dinescu.
Substitutes : A. Matescu, Nicolescu, Epure, Craciunescu, Tudor, E. Sfetescu, M. Slobozeanu, Anastasiade, Florea.
Manager : ?.