Roger Bourgarel
French rugby union player (born 1947)
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Biography
Born in Toulouse, Bourgarel was a speedy winger of Guadeloupean descent known as “La Flèche Noire”, which translates to "The Black Arrow". He played his club rugby for hometown club Stade Toulousain.[2]
Bourgarel, capped nine times by France, played both Tests against the Springboks on the 1971 tour of apartheid South Africa, after his selection had caused much political controversy.[3] The president of the French federation, Albert Ferrasse, had insisted on Bourgarel's place in the squad, a position supported by his South African counterpart Danie Craven.[4] He became the first black rugby player to be granted permission by the South African government to tour the country.[5]
Since 2020, Bourgarel has served as the mayor of the town of Prunet in Haute-Garonne.[6]