Castres. Retro CO: Franck Bunce, the prince of Blacks

Tonight, 9:10 p.m., the XV of France will challenge New Zealand. The opportunity for CO supporters to remember the All-Blacks who passed through the club. From Gary Whetton, who became a club legend in just two seasons, to Jack Goodhue, who arrived a year ago, there are a dozen of them to have worn the blue jersey of Castres Olympique and the black jersey of the famous Rugby players with the silver fern. If Gary Whetton seems to have taken up all the space in Castres memories, another New Zealand legend evolved on the banks of Agoût. Franck Bunce, solid center, from Castres during the 1998-1999 season, would make a superb character in a novel and would well deserve a biography dedicated to him. On a sporting level, Franck already stands out from the others since he has the distinction of having played in the 1991 World Cup in the colors of Samoa and then in 1995 with the New Zealand jersey. A black jersey that he wore 55 times between April 18, 1992 and December 6, 1997. The most capped center for the Blacks, he is also the oldest backline player to have represented New Zealand in an official match, he was then 35 years and 305 days old. On a personal level, Franck Bunce is not a man like the others either. Direct descendant of George Rex, Franck would be related to the English crown. George Rex would indeed have been the son of King George III. A child born from an adulterous relationship between Hannah Lightfoot and the sovereign. A lineage contested by several historians. History does not say whether Franck took advantage of his visit to Castres to admire the ceremonial helmet exhibited at the Goya museum, offered to the Castresian Jean-Louis de Ligonier by Georges II, grandfather of Georges III.