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France's national rugby union team head coach Philippe Saint-Andre. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
6 Nations

Profile: Grandfather’s French Resistance heroism is in my DNA – says Les Bleus boss Saint-Andre

The France coach’s grandfather was executed by the Nazis.

FRANCE COACH Philippe Saint-Andre’s hugely successful career so far has been due in large part to the principles he has taken from his grandfather, who was executed by the Nazis during World War II, he says.

His grandfather, also Philippe, was mayor of the small mountainous village of La Chapelle-en-Vercors in south-east France but on July 25, 1944, he along with 15 other members of the French Resistance were discovered in the cave they were hiding in and shot.

He left behind a widow — who his grandson says was like a second mother to him — and a son Serge, then aged 18 months old and who coincidentally is the present mayor of the village.

The village had to be completely rebuilt after the Nazis, as was their habit, punished the residents by throwing everyone out of their houses and burning them to the ground.

Whilst the village was honoured following the liberation of France with the highest honour — the gold medal of the Ordre de la Liberation — and the local school was named in honour of his grandfather, Saint-Andre says it is not something the descendants of those families like to talk about much.

Indeed he admits that he doesn’t like to talk about it much publicly despite plenty of requests from the media to do so.

“Regarding my grandfather it’s quite personal,” he told AFP. “It’s inside me, its in my DNA.”

However, when willing to talk about it he is keen to stress the personal qualities that the resistants possessed.

“I was brought up with these stories and obviously July 25th is an important day and I like to go back when I can make it,” he says. “The people, though, coming from the mountains don’t speak about those days much with outsiders, they just think its natural this fighting spirit!

“I spent all my childhood with my grandmother, hence why she is like a second mother to me, and listening to the story about my grandfather instilled a certain pride in me,” added the 69-times capped former France wing and captain.

He is keen to transfer the values of his grandfather to the French squad, something he has been doing gently since he replaced Marc Lievremont following the 2011 World Cup final, where the All Blacks beat the French 8-7.

“I have tried to impress on the players that it is fundamental to have pride, show respect and also be polite,” said Saint-Andre, speaking before he leads the French into his second Six Nations tournament.

“In France we have started to forget those important characteristics. I tell them it is important to have pride in the French jersey and I have also tried to put more structure into their lives such as punctuality.

- © AFP, 2012

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