RUGBY & ART
Jean-Pierre Rives in conversation with Richard Escot
Translated by Robert Pralle
Jean-Pierre Rives epitomised the French tradition of flair coupled with guts and glory. A charismatic flanker with his long blond hair flowing, he captained the team a record thirty-four times, gaining fifty-nine caps from 1975-84.
Nevertheless, before rugby writer Richard Escot's persistence paid off and Rives, now a sculptor, told him, 'OK, come down to the atelier and we'll see what happens,' little was known about the former player – beyond, that is, what Jean-Pierre considers to be an extravagant reputation. Previously he had guarded his silence; here, in a series of eight conversations, Rives reveals himself to be a natural talker, prepared to provide an insight both into his unique character and what it is like to play rugby at the highest level.
Richard Escot is the long-term senior rugby correspondent for L'Équipe. He has written numerous books related to the game, including biographies of Philippe Saint-André, Abdel Benazzi and Philippe Sella. D'Art et d'Essais was published in 2003 by Éditions de La Martinière.