Gaelic football folks ‘en Bretagne’ or in Brittany, France waste no time when it comes to getting back in there playing as their 2011/2012 Championnat de Bretagne de Football Gaélique is already up and running.
Over the past several years, an explosion of Gaelic football or football gaelique teams has sprouted in this northwest corner of France with nine teams in competition today.
Teams hail from all over the Bretagne region, from Nantes in the south to St Brieuc in the north coast, but the thing that’s most impressive is that most are new clubs formed within the last five years and are made up of almost all French players.
The main competition, Le Championnat de Bretagne de Football Gaélique began life back in 2005 and since that time has been growing stronger each season with new teams joining the league.
The dominant force in ‘football gaelique’ over the past number of years has been the team from Liffré who have won the last four championships and this year are on track to make it five-in-a-row as they lead the table after three rounds with 38 points.
Runners-up last year, Nantes are in second place on 30 points and will be determined to gain revenge while Vannes, who are in third spot, will also be hoping to do well based on their good showing at their home tournament before Christmas..
While the next round of the Championnat de Bretagne de Football Gaélique takes place on St Patricks Day, March 17, 2012 at Guerande, there is also a secondary competition in Brittany, the Bretagne Cup.
This Saturday, Jan 7 at 2.30pm at the Stade du Petit Bretagne sees hosts, Nantes take on Guerande in the Quart de Finale de la Coupe de Bretagne.
Bretagne also play a secondary competition
Championnat de Bretagne de Football Gaélique Standings 2011/2012
NAN | BRE | VAN | GUE | LIF | SBR | TOTAL | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liffré |
25 |
– |
13 |
38 |
|||
Nantes |
20 |
10 |
– |
30 |
|||
Vannes |
16 |
– |
10 |
26 |
|||
Guérande |
10 |
13 |
23 |
||||
Brest |
13 |
8 |
– |
21 |
|||
St-Brieuc |
8 |
7 |
– |
15 |
|||
St-Malo |
9 |
– |
0 |
9 |
|||
Cornouaille |
3 |
6 |
– |
9 |
|||
Rennes |
0 |
– |
3 |
3 |
NOTE: Across top venues; on side teams. (No podcast with this post).