Robert Samatan

Robert Samatan, nicknamed Bob la Science (Toulouse, 16 April 1909 - Antibes, 4 May 1986) was a French rugby union and rugby league footballer.

Robert Samatan
Eugène Ribère (Quillan) et Robert Samatan (Agen), during the kick-off of the 1931 match in Bordeaux.
Birth nameRobert Urban Jean Samatan
Date of birth(1909-04-16)April 16, 1909
Place of birthToulouse, France
Date of death4 May 1986(1986-05-04) (aged 77)
Place of deathAntibes, France
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight167 lb (76 kg; 11 st 13 lb)
Rugby league career
Position(s) Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1934-19?? Lyon ()
Roanne ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1934-37 France 6 (12)
Teams coached
Years Team
1951-54 France
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1930-31 Agen ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1930-31 France 10 (6)

He debuted for T.O.E.C (rugby union), 178 m tall and weighing 76 kg at his debut, later he played at left wing for SU Agen (but also as right wing or number eight).

A very powerful player, he is the forerunner of the modern wingers' playing style. The first player to be inspired by his lively and alert techninque was Jean Dauger, who played for Bayonne.

On March 1934, dismissed from SU Agen, he was part of the rugby league team of the "Galia’s Boys" who made a memorable tour in England under the management and captainship of its creator Jean Galia. His status as a Pioneer (Galia's Boy) did not qualified him as a French International.

Opting for rugby league, he integrated the Roanne XIII squad where Max Rousié and Jean Dauger played alongside him in 1938.

In 1951, he comanaged the first French tour of a team sport (e.g. France national rugby league team) in Australia and New Zealand.

In his civil life, he worked as wholesaler in the alimentar sector.

Biography

On March 1934, Robert Samatan made an interview for L'Auto after switching to rugby league where he denounced the hypocrisy and the shamateurism within the French Rugby Federation since several years. Playing then at the Toulouse lyceum, he received an offer from Annibert (of Stade Toulousain, who later became a member of the French Athletics Federation where he dictated the laws of the full amateurism). Annibert promised him a success at his exams and numerous advantages and Mr. Furst of Stade Toulousain also proposed him 200 francs per month, which convinced Samatan to sign. After some months, his salary quadruplied and numerous clubs offered him a better salary like Quillan and Carcassonne, but it is finally Agen through Mr. Armand Bastoul's intermediary which obtained his signature for 25.000 francs and a situation, which later convinced Maurice Porra to join him at Agen for 1.500 francs per month.[1] He decided to take part of the creation of a French rugby league team with Jean Galia. Appointed by the latter tocoinvince some players to switch to rugby league, he faced overbids from from rugby union clubs which were yet amateur in principle, such as USA Perpignan.[2]

Rugby union career
  • Champion of France (as winger) with SU Agen (1930)
  • International (10 caps) for France A (1930 -1931)

Rugby league career
  • Team honours :
  • Individual honours :
    • International in four occasions for France between 1934 and 1936.
    • Co-trainer of France (being the first French team of a team sport (France national rugby league team) who made in 1951 a tour (successful and of 2,5 months) in Oceania) (1951-1955).

International Caps
Robert Samatan international matches
Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Position Points Tries Pen. Drops
1. 15 April 1934 Stade Buffalo, Paris, France England 21-32 ? Wing ? ? ? ?
2. 1 January 1935 Bordeaux, France Pays de Galles 18-11 ? Wing ? ? ? ?
3. 28 March 1935 Stade Buffalo, Paris, France England 15-15 ? Wing ? ? ? ?
4. 6 December 1936 Paris, France Wales 3-9 ? Five-eights ? ? ? ?

Notes and references

Notes
  1. Robert Samatan did not took part at the final.

References
  1. Les sensationnelles déclarations des joueurs Samatan, Porra, Carrère et Fabre sur les procédés de certains dirigeats en face des lois de m'amateurisme, l'Auto, le samedi 3 mars 1934.
  2. Actuellement encore des joueurs sont payés !, Robert Perrier, l'Auto, le dimanche 5 mars 1934.
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