In 1995, two multi-sport clubs in Paris merged, Le Stade Francais CASG Paris was formed. When the ex-player, Bernard Laporte took to the helm, success was immediate: starting down in the B group of the French leagues, le Stade Francais won two successive French Champion titles and had, in less than two years, shot to the then "A1" group
In 1999, Laporte became the National Coach but Le Stade Francais continued to dominate French Rugby. The club plays in the Top 14 domestic league and at European level in the Heineken Cup. Stade Francais President, Max Guazzini used shock-tactics in the club's merchandise. In 2005, he introduced the colour pink to the macho world of rugby. Since then, the team plays in pink jerseys (except for one of the first matches against Toulouse when the referee refused on the grounds that the colour would clash with Toulouse's red). In 2006-07, two club jerseys were designed by Kenzo - a 'traditional' pink version and a new blue version with pink lilies and green numbers on the back. Last season, Le Stade Francais sold 20,000 replica shirts as a result of the new colours.
Transport Access : Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport is 45 minutes from the Jean Bouin Stadium.
The metro system gives easy access to any district of paris. Closest metro stations to the Jean Bouin stadium are on the Porte St Cloud and Porte d'Auteuil lines.
Out and About: With perhaps some of the world's greatest classic architecture, the best museums and an important cultural scene, Paris is the world's most visited city
The beautiful river Seine runs through the city, cutting the centre into two traditionally different 'intellectual' areas - the left and right banks.
The best way to visit Paris is on foot - it is easy to get around and every street features something of interest. The main attractions, of course include The Champs Elysee, The Louvre, the Orangerie Museum for Impressionist Art, the Eiffel Tower for fantastic views of the city, the Notre Dame Cathedral, situated on the Ile de la Cite and the Sacre Coeur cathedral at the bottom of the 'butte Montmartre'.
Paris is proud of its thriving cultural scene and theatre, dance and music spectacles abound throughout the city's districts, or 'arrondissements'.
Eurodisney is situated 30 minutes to the east of Paris and is easily reached by the city's excellent rail links.
On the sporting front, Paris is home to the French Open Tennis Tournament (Roland Garros) , held in May. The state of the art Stade de France played host to the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and is an attraction in its own right, and in 2007 France hosted the rugby World Cup.
