Rugby: In good humor and especially mud
The Pig's Nations took place this Saturday in the Périgord Noir region, and it was a resounding success. Sixteen mixed teams were present to play six-minute matches, their feet in the mud.
While an experimental French XV was holding its own against the terrifying All Blacks, in Dunedin, New Zealand on Saturday morning, another major event was taking place at Le Coux: the Pig's Nations, or pig rugby tournament, for the uninitiated.
On the menu: mud, laughter, rugby, and a great atmosphere. The principle is simple: on four mini-pitches, sixteen teams (mixed, it's a must) play six-minute matches, their feet in the mud, the pitches being copiously watered all day long by water from the nearby Dordogne River.
After a few minutes, it's hard to tell who's who. The ball, made very slippery by the mud, falls more often than usual. That said, some pull off some nice acrobatics when it's time to touch down. Others, eternal grumblers, complain about the refereeing. We won't do that again. Between two matches, a quick dip in the river, just to cool off. Others, more pragmatic, attack with pressure, just to hydrate. Good humor is the order of the day. By the way, who won? "We don't care," confides one participant. "We're here to laugh and have a good time."
Dordogne Libre
