Login

Bay of Plenty sevens expert Gordon Tietjens takes his first NZ team to Fiji. They didn't win the tournament there but Tietjens stayed coach for 20-plus years

Bagnères and France
39 internationals for France 1971–80

A soccer player until he was 17, Aguirre gained his first international caps for France as a scrumhalf in 1971. A season later he changed to fullback and took to the role so readily that he was chosen to play for France in his new position against the All Blacks in early 1973. Injury kept him out of that game but shortly afterwards he coped so well at fullback against Wales that he became the replacement France had been seeking for Pierre Villepreux. He was rarely out of favour for the next six years.

A stylish attacker, Aguirre could also kick goals effectively. He landed six for France in the second test against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1977, three of them from near halfway. Aguirre also landed a massive 65-metre kick on Wellington’s Athletic Park in 1979. Yet it is as a brilliantly versatile runner that he is remembered. He played a major part in France’s 24–19 win over New Zealand in 1979 – the famous ‘Bastille Day’ victory.

Aguirre later became a radio broadcaster on the game.

Martin Donnelly