A 47th year of a unique rugby entente cordiale saw Warlingham take on Old Hirelings Stade Français Paris in the traditional cross-channel match that accompanies Le Crunch between England and France.

The famous pink and blue colours of global rugby royalty Stade Francais adourned the Hamsey Green club to welcome the visitors for a weekend of fraternity and full blooded rugby.

The friendship was established in February 1978 when Warlingham travelled to the French capital to play Stade with generations of players from both clubs playing in the fixture and enjoying each others hospitality alongside the 6 nations tournament match between the two countries.

With England taking the spoils in dramatic fashion at Twickenham, the French tourists were determined to win at Hamsey Green and win the Marc Lefèvre Trophy. With a few sore heads from the previous day, the teams took to the field and battled the mud and typical English weather in front of a big crowd. Old Hirelings took the lead with an unconverted try making light of the conditions early on before former Warlingham 1st XV captain James Delderfield scored on his return to the club. Current 1st XV player Olly Wilson converted to send the Wars into the lead. Hirelings handled the ball rather better than their international compatriots and showed their ability to ‘joue’ dashing in for another first half try. With the referee preparing to blow the half time whistle, Dave Thornton raced over and finished with a swallow dive that pleased the home crowd almost as much as they cheered Wars indefatigable Captain Danny Gillespie’s conversion to send the home side into the lead.

Spurred on by the fresh memories of Elliott Daly’s winning try the day before, Old Hirelings took advantage of some tired legs in the Warlingham side made up of veterans, youngsters, returning players and regular tourists. A 29-14 victory in some of the muddiest conditions around was a deserved victory for the French but the spirit and camaraderie between both sides really is the highlight of these fixtures.

An afternoon of good food, good wine and good company followed with lunch served for 120 guests filling the Warlingham club house. A really wonderful tradition that is going from strength to strength. The singing was in full voice and both sides presented gifts to each other with fond memories of tours past shared with a bon voyage to Warlingham’s friends from France.

With huge thanks to Danny Gillespie, Denis Robson, Peter Braithwaite and everyone that helped make a brilliant day.

Onto Paris in 2026.