Walter Spanghero

Walter Spanghero (to pronounce Oualtère in south-west; known as the Man of Iron by the South-African ones, at the conclusion of the round of 1967) is a player of Rugby to XV, born a December 21st 1943 with Payra-on-the Hers, in the Lauragais: 1m87 for 100 kg, with the impressive hands, as at ease in second line as in third line centers and wing.

Biography

He played in team first with Narbonne of 1963 with 1977 (after a very young passage by Bram), then with the Stade Toulousain as from 1977 per two seasons at the sides of Jean-Pierre Rives and Jean-Claude Skrela. From its will have and its physical power (six adversaries were sometimes necessary to embank it!), he was the French player emblématique of the decade 1965 - 1975!

He is not selected by the FFR in 1970, following the publication of his book polemizes Rugby in the middle in 1969. True national hero (the president Georges Pompidou asked even for its return in the team of France in 1971!), with the frank and rocky speech, it began at the tricolor ones in team has at the 20 years age instead of the captain of the Stade Toulousain Jean Fabre then wounded, for a South-African round.

He was the son of an emigrated Italian mason of the Friuli in the Aude to flee the famine, become farmer in the small commune of Bram. He was thus quite naturally initially farm hand, worked in a bank before becoming business man, all that, parallel to his sporting career. He is the third of a line of six brothers and two sisters. His/her five brothers (in the order of appearance on the ground of occitanie: Laurent, Jean-Marie, Claude, Guy and Gilbert) all also extremely well is framed, and played Rugby to differing degree. Claude was 22 times international has (including seven at the sides of his/her brother), and just like belonged to the team first Racing Club Narbonnese Laurent, Jean-Marie and Guy (Gilbert played in particular Graulhet).

It obtained the Oscar of the Olympic South (better French player of the championship) in 1966 and 1972 (finishing second in 1965 and 1968).

With the stop of its sporting career in 1979 (marked out of about thirty fractures to the speeds of cures leaving more than one doctor pantois!), Walter was owner of an agency of hiring of vehicles (created already in 1971), of a store of articles of sport to Toulouse, of a company of automobile recycling, responsible for a company of installation of course of tennis in this same Toulouse region… and finally still very recently occupied important functions as assistant mayor of the town of Toulouse in load, inter alia, of the municipal police and his 450 agents. He was elected by the FFR in 1995 to organize the progressive transition from his sport towards professionalism, but decided finally claquer the door.

He also played in 1978 the role of a trainer of Rugby in the film Ca does not go the head? of Raphaël Delpard, to the sides of the actor bigourdan Henri Genes, unforgettable to support of the national team in England in Go France! of Robert Dhéry in 1964!

a whole chapter is devoted to him in the work Rugby in blood, Spanghero, Albaladejo, Camberabero, Herrero, Boniface of Renaud de Laborderie, ED. Calmann-Levy in 1968
It wrote a book, Rugby in the middle , ED. Solar in 1969
Fernand Albaret devoted a work to its " clan" family, Spanghero , ED. Calmann-Levy in 1975 (rééd. I have Lu in 1977)
to read also finally: the saga of Spanghero of Roger Country house, ED. rock in 1999

- Its nephew Nicolas, born in 1976, wire of the old center three-quarter of Narbonne, gained the championship of the university world in 2000, the European Bouclier in 2003 and the Challenge South-Radio (ex-Cut of the Ligue/ex-Of-Manor) in 2004 with Castres, where there will have remained five years, of 2001 to 2006, after being last by the US Dax. It will leave then two years to the Harlequins London.

- His/her older brother Laurent gained the Béguère Challenge in 1966, the Challenge Yves Of-Manor in 1968, and in 1967 was finalist.

- His/her brother Jean-Marie gained the Challenge Yves Of-Manor in 1968, 1973 and 1974 (was finalist in 1967), and was vice-champion of France in 1974.

- His/her brother Claude, second line born the June 5th 1948, was champion of France (and captain) in 1979 (vice-champion in 1974), and victorious of the Challenge Yves Of-Manor in 1973,1974, 1978 and 1979, as selected 22 times in team of France has 1971 with 1975 (including 7 at the sides of his/her Walter brother in second line), and member of the French rounds in South Africa in 1971 and Australia in 1972.

Prize list

In club

Finalist of the championship of France in 1974 with Racing Narbonnese Club (he is then captain)
Challenge Yves of the Manor in 1968,1973 and 1974
Challenge Béguère in 1966
Finaliste of the challenge of the Manor in 1967
Finaliste of the Bouclier of autumn in 1971 and 1974
Demi-finaliste of the championship of France in 1964,1968,1972,1975,1976 (Narbonne) and 1978 (Toulouse)
Demi-finaliste of the challenge of the Manor in 1966,1970,1975 and 1976
He played more than 600 matches of championship, between Narbonne (more than 350) and Toulouse.

In national team

51 selections in team of France, June 1964 to 1973 (11 times captain), including 24 in the Tournoi of V nations.
Large Slam & Gold Balloon (better player of a Large Slam) at the time of the Tournament of V nations 1968 (Spanghero plays the four matches, just like three other French)
Vainqueur of the Tournoi of V nations in 1967, and 1973 (… he is then captain, and the 5 teams are for the first - and only time ex-aequo!)
Six national rounds: South Africa (1964, 1967 and 1971), Australia (1968 and 1972) and New Zealand (1968)
Victorious of All Blacks the February 11th 1973 with Paris, and of the Scot the January 13rd of the same year at the time of the first match of Rugby disputed with new the Park of the Princes, it as a captain.

External bonds

Walter Spanghero Statistics scrum.com
Walter Spanghero one FFR.fr

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