As we mentioned in our last letter, our annual rugby magazine, Tampon!, was released on January 29th, just in time for the Six Nations tournament. For the first time ever, it was available for pre-order and then for sale on our online store.so . It was a resounding success, with hundreds of copies already shipped to you, free of charge. That's right, we don't charge any shipping fees.
So, before we present our expanded selection of 10 rugby photographs to celebrate the new edition of the Six Nations tournament, we wanted to let you know that we've decided to repeat the experience with the release, a few days ago, of the latest issue of So Foot, entirely dedicated to Pep Guardiola. And good news never comes alone: this is the first volume . The second will be released in March. Here's the table of contents for volume 1, dedicated to Pep the Catalan, to give you a taste of what's inside.
A summary that emphasizes possession and high pressing. Featuring iconic interviews (Guardiola, Iniesta, Pedro…)
Reports (Santpedor, Brescia, Qatar, Mexico and even Valenciennes…)
Analyses , and plenty of sweets that will retrace in detail the player's career and his beginnings on the bench…
We only have about fifty left at the office, so don't hesitate to order yours. And remember, shipping is free . Yes, free.
The photos:
Rugby is the oldest team sport in the modern era. Many consider it too violent, a sport played only by brutes and brawlers. Yet, this photograph, taken at night in Russia during a Super Cup Rugby match between two local clubs, paradoxically evokes a great deal of gentleness . Almost the delicacy of a ballet. An image filled with shadows against a blue-orange sky. So yes, it's not the most serene sport, but this image shows us that rugby can be artistic.
Can a team instill fear in an entire nation? The answer is yes! And to understand this, we must go back to 2015, during the Rugby World Cup held in England. After more than a month of competition, Dan Carter's All Blacks faced Bryan Habana's Springboks in the semi-final. In front of more than 80,000 spectators, the two teams entered the Twickenham arena , ready to deliver a true battle. Many spectators said after the match that they were afraid of the haka, that they felt that anger and rage from over a hundred meters away. Imagine what the South Africans must have felt just five meters away. Too strong, and driven by their desire to defend their title once again, the All Blacks won after an incredibly close match (20-18). After their victory in the final against Australia , Dan Carter was named player of the tournament, and Richie McCaw, captain of New Zealand, made history by winning his second title as captain. The photograph captures the calm after the storm, revealing the true beauty of sport: Bryan Habana and Richie McCaw shake hands and congratulate each other on the match.
In 2022, during the Six Nations Tournament , France had the chance to achieve the feat of a Grand Slam, remaining undefeated for the 10th time in its history . A performance not seen since 2010. And it happened, thanks in particular to the final try scored by Les Bleus' playmaker, Antoine Dupont, in the 61st minute. And what a try it was! Following a pass from Aldritt, the diminutive Toulouse scrum-half beat two Englishmen, including a powerful forward with a powerful fend, before touching down with a broad smile between the posts . This image captures the joy of a group of friends in a tournament, having achieved their goal against their great rivals, the English, in front of their home crowd at the Stade de France , 80,000 fans firmly behind them. Singing, shouting, crossing their fingers. It also shows that rugby can sometimes be child's play.
The Irish player in the green jersey is Mack Hansen, a winger, standing 1.88m tall and weighing 89kg – what rugby jargon would call a "big guy." But don't worry, because we know a little man, 1.74m tall and weighing 85kg , who managed to stop him just short of the try line. It's none other than Antoine Dupont . The French international saved a try during the second round of the 2023 Six Nations Championship , even though it wasn't enough to secure a victory for his team (32-19) .
Everyone knows Michael Jordan, everyone knows Cristiano Ronaldo, and most people know Michael Schumacher. Dan Carter is one of those sporting legends. During his career, he was named World Player of the Year three times (2005, 2012, and 2015) and was named Man of the Match fourteen times in international games. He won two Rugby World Cups (2011 and 2015), two Tri-Nations titles (2005 and 2008), and three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders. He also earned 112 caps for the All Blacks between 2003 and 2015, scoring 1,598 points, a record for New Zealand. And it was during that last World Cup in 2015 , in England, that Carter marked the end of his international career with the All Blacks in the best possible way, being the man of the match in the final against Australia with 19 points, including a decisive drop goal , two conversions and four penalties (34-17). He was then named Player of the Year in 2015.
On November 10, 2007, at the Stade Jean-Bouin , Stade Français defeated Harlequins (37-17) in an epic Heineken Cup match. The atmosphere was electric, the weather cold and humid. This resulted in this hazy image, where the players' body temperature emitted clouds of perspiration that blurred the colors and made the two teams less distinct. It's almost an impressionist painting.
On July 27, 2024, the French rugby sevens team made French sporting history by winning its first Olympic gold medal , defeating the overwhelming favorites Fiji 28-7 in the final at the Stade de France. After a tight first half, the match turned thanks to the introduction of Antoine Dupont, the true hero of the game . With his composure and leadership, he took control of the game, launching the kickoff. A counter-attack that allowed France to take the lead. Before extending their advantage with a powerful try, between three opponents, just over a minute from the end . A collective feat orchestrated by Dupont's genius, greeted by a delirious crowd and a whole nation celebrating! Thank you Antoine, William, Jonathan, Thibaud, Stephen, Varian, Paulin, Jordan, Joachim, Nisié, Joris, and Pierre!
The Haka, this ancestral ritual of the All Blacks, embodies much more than a simple chant: it represents the pride, culture, and fighting spirit of the Maori people. Before each match, the New Zealand players perform it with unique intensity, to challenge their opponents and assert their dominance. Among the iconic figures who have marked the history of the Haka, Tana Umaga stands out as one of the most respected captains , a leader whose presence and determination amplified the power of this war chant. During his matches, particularly during the 2003 World Cup, Umaga embodied the pride of his team, with a piercing gaze and an imposing posture that made the opposition tremble long before kickoff.
The 2023/2024 season for Stade Toulousain was shaping up to be a real turning point for the Ernest-Wallon club. After a promising 2022/2023 season and a Top 14 title, Toulouse dreamed of returning to the top and bringing home two more titles: the Top 14 and the Heineken Cup. And they achieved this at the end of an " exceptional season ," in the words of their president, Didier Lacroix. A victory against Leinster in London (31-22) preceded a dominant performance at the Vélodrome against Bordeaux-Bègles, a resounding 59-3 victory ... including two tries from the ever-reliable Antoine Dupont. Named man of the match , he thus secured his fourth Brennus Shield.
Being the brains, the target of the defenders, the tactician in action, the coach's right-hand man— that's the role of the scrum-half . They are often quite fast, quite agile, with a very different feel for the game than we do. They are conductors, putting on a show every weekend during matches. Antoine Dupont understood this role very quickly, and the Toulouse player executes it perfectly. In this photo of Stade Toulousain against Ulster in the pool stage of the 2020 Heineken Cup , we see that his action coming out of the scrum triggers a reaction from the other players, who then follow suit . This is all the more useful when the fog created by the combination of cold and perspiration obscures the forwards' vision.
In a rugby lineout , there's the team throwing. And the team that's there to intercept and take possession of the ball. It's a decisive moment, often unpredictable. When the receivers are lifted by their teammates carrying the ball, arms outstretched towards the sky, everything hinges on precision and synchronization. Seconds stretch out, then comes the catch or interception (depending on the situation): seizing the ball in mid-air, stealing the advantage from the opponent, or volleying it back into their own half. This action symbolizes the power of a team, and in this skill, the French rugby legend Imanol Harinordoquy excelled. Like this catch during a match against Ireland at the Stade de France in the 2012 Six Nations tournament.
Long before the Moscato Show, in 1991, Vincent Moscato, an iconic figure in French rugby and prop for CA Bordeaux-Bègles , was already getting into the thick of things. But quite literally. With his teammates Serge Simon and Philippe Gimbert , they were nicknamed "Les Rapetous" (The Beagle Boys), a reference to the villains in Scrooge McDuck comics. They were known for their power, their fighting spirit, and, in this photo more than ever, their villainous looks with shaved heads. A special hairstyle for this French rugby championship final against Toulouse in '91 . A final won by CABBG with a score of 19 to 10 , thanks in particular to these scrum clashes where Moscato's Bègles players wore down the Toulouse team and gradually built their victory.
All these photos are limited edition.
Between 15 and 30 copies per size, and per medium (photo paper, dibond, plexi)