A symbol finally restored. On 13 June 1982, France’s first women’s rugby union team played the very first international match in the history of women’s rugby, against the Netherlands.
At a time when rugby was still seen as a men’s sport, women’s teams were not part of the French Rugby Federation. The Gallic rooster – an emblem of France’s national teams for over a century – did not appear on the women’s jerseys, as if their legitimacy at the highest level had yet to be fully recognised.
Forty-four years later, Renault, with the support of the French Rugby Federation, has chosen to bring the 1982 team back into the spotlight and correct this oversight with a simple yet highly symbolic gesture: a jersey inspired by the 1982 design — this time featuring the Gallic rooster over the heart — was presented to the pioneering players by Marina Ferrari, Minister for Sport, Youth and Community Life, alongside Florian Grill, President of the French Rugby Federation. More than a redesign, it marks a long-awaited recognition of their place in the history of French rugby.
“This gesture goes beyond symbolism: it corrects a long-standing injustice and recognises the pioneers who helped shape women’s rugby. By finally wearing the rooster, they become role models for future generations,” said Marina Ferrari, Minister for Sport, Youth and Community Life, who also announced the players will be awarded the Gold Medal for Youth, Sport and Community Engagement.
As a partner of the French Rugby Federation since 2020, this initiative is part of Renault’s long-term commitment to supporting women’s rugby. Through its social inclusion programme, Give Me 5, the brand wants to do more than just tell the story of the 1982 women’s team – it is writing a new chapter focused on the future, restoring both status and symbols to each of the original players, as they deserve.
“Women’s rugby embodies the values of boldness and determination. By placing the symbol of the rooster on this jersey, we want to restore to these pioneers what was denied to them: the symbol of our national pride. This gesture fully reflects the philosophy of our Give Me 5 programme, which works to promote inclusion, equality and access to sport for all,” said Arnaud Belloni, Renault’s Global Marketing Director.
In Grenoble, past and present come together
The initiative kicked off in Grenoble on Saturday, 11 April 2026, on the sidelines of the France vs. Italy Women’s Six Nations Championship match. The 1982 players took to the pitch alongside the current team, bringing together two generations united by a shared history – and both bearing witness to how far the game has come.
Together, teams old and new sang La Marseillaise, sharing in the pride of a national team that finally feels complete. For the original women’s team, wearing this jersey – now adorned with the Gallic rooster – marked a form of recognition they had been waiting for for more than forty years.
“Forty-four years on, being presented with the jersey bearing the rooster is a source of immense pride – it recognises our status as internationals. Wearing it… I don’t even know how to put it into words. It’s huge, it’s unimaginable. We’ve seen it on TV, we’ve seen it worn by France’s national teams, and today, we’re wearing this jersey, which is ours, which is finally ours. We are incredibly proud,” said Véronique Faurel, a former player from the 1982 women’s national team.
A few hours before taking to the pitch, Florian Grill, President of the French Rugby Federation, personally presented the original players with the FFR international card – awarded to all players who have competed in an international match. This official document certifies their status and, together with the rooster-adorned jersey, completes the team’s long-overdue recognition.
“The exponential growth of women’s rugby today must never let us forget those who paved the way. Together with Renault, we are proud to honour these pioneering women, thanks to whom 55,000 registered players can now fully live out their passion,” says Grill. “Times have finally changed: today, women players proudly wear the rooster on their shirts, letting it shine and putting France in the spotlight.”
“Beyond this symbolic gesture, the FFR is fully committed to accelerating the development of women’s rugby and is taking concrete steps to achieve this, including a ‘Marshall Plan’ for infrastructure (such as women’s changing rooms) and the feminisation of our 2,000 clubs, which will see us bringing in more female players, managers, coaches and referees. The support of our committed partners such as Renault helps to drive this vital momentum.”
A campaign orchestrated by Havas Play
To amplify this moment, Havas Play developed a multi-phase campaign built around the April 11 match, combining creative content and a live activation. The campaign started with a teaser phase featuring short-form films released ahead of the match, supported by an escalating social media strategy to reveal the story. The live activation during the match — with the joint appearance of the 1982 players and the current team singing the national anthem — served as the central moment of the campaign, amplified in real time across social platforms.
The initiative is further extended through a documentary broadcast on national French television (France 3’s Rencontres à XV) and a print campaign launching from April 12.
“This initiative was born from a simple idea: you cannot celebrate the progress of a sport without recognising those who made it possible…” said Fabrice Plazolles, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Havas Play.
Looking back to move forward, with the Give Me 5 programme
This initiative is part of a broader approach led by Renault through its social inclusion programme, Give Me 5, dedicated to promoting inclusion and equal opportunities through sport.
The programme is delivered through grassroots initiatives designed to improve access to sport, particularly for young people. In rugby, this came to life last year in Seine-Saint-Denis with the launch of a GIVEME5 kit, designed to encourage women’s participation and distributed to young female players during introductory sessions at local clubs.
Through initiatives like these, Renault is taking action where it matters most – on the ground. It’s a project that also reflects the symbolic gesture made today to the 1982 original team: honouring the past while, most importantly, equipping the next generation to shape the future.
