José Calle

José Calle (Perpignan, 12 February 1945- Perpignan, 14 January 2020) was a French rugby union and professional rugby league (RL) player who represented France (RL).

José Calle
Personal information
Full nameJoseph Calle
Born(1945-02-12)12 February 1945
Perpignan, France
DiedJanuary 14, 2020(2020-01-14) (aged 74)[1][2]
Perpignan, France
Playing information
Rugby union
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
< 1968 USA Perpignan
Rugby league
PositionFullback, Stand-off
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
AS Saint-Estève
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1968–78 France 17 2 10 1 27
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1985–87 AS Saint-Estève
As of 4 February 2021
Source: [3]

Playing career

After learning rugby union at the Haut Vernet Lay Centre in Perpignan, where as a junior player he reinforced the senior team, then, joining the USA Perpignan rugby union team where he played alongside Jo Maso, he switched codes in 1968 and joined rugby league side Saint-Estève. With the latter, he won a French Championship in 1971 and a Lord Derby Cup in 1972. His club performances allowed him to represent France, of which he became captain. He made his international debut 1968 during a match in St. Helens against Great Britain. Calle disputed two World Cups in Australia, the first in 1975 and the second in 1977 where in the latter he wore the captain armband. He took part in 26 international matches (Australia, England, Wales, Papua New Guinea). He would have the occasion to play with the France national team to play the first part of football matches, notably at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. In 1978 he was awarded the XIII de Bronze trophy which rewarded the best players of the championship . After his international retirement in 1977, he embraced a club career in Saint-Estève, later coaching notably the Roussillon representative team of France Rugby League. After his retirement, he chose to play amateur rugby league, taking part to à 3 international tournaments for the Basque Coast side Les Archiball (1981, 1983 and 1986). He also took part to several UFAR tournament as player for the Nyn's (UFAR Perpignan in 2000) and président of the Nyn's (famous Catalan team of former rugby players) since 2013.

Calle captained the French squad at the 1977 World Cup.

References
  1. FFRXIII (2020-01-14). "Carnet noir : L'ancien international José Calle n'est plus". Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII (in French). Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  2. Nicolas (2020-01-15). "Décès de José Calle, ancien international Français". Treize Mondial (in French). Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  3. Jose Calle rugbyleagueproject.org


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