Jean Galia Medal Will Make Euro
Nations Debut

The Man of the Match in next Sunday's European Nations Cup Final will be presented with The Jean Galia Medal.

The new award has been named in honour of the former Toulouse and Villeneuve centre who played an important role in introducing Rugby League to France in 1933.

After coming into contact with British Rugby League officials, Jean Galia convinced a group of 16 French Union players to try the 'new' code and organised a short tour of the UK early in 1934, playing games at Wigan, Leeds, Hull, Warrington, Salford and at London's White City stadium.

Later that year, the Federation Francaise de Jeu a Trieze was formed and staged its first international against England in Paris.

Commenting on the creation of the Jean Galia Medal, the European Nations Cup Tournament Director Graeme Thompson said: "The Jean Galia Medal is a fitting title for the Man of the Match award in the European Nations Cup Final.

"Not only are we honouring the man who played a major part in developing Rugby League in France, we are recognising a point in history when Rugby League began its development as a truly European sport".

Thompson added: "We feel certain the player who is awarded the Jean Galia medal will feel both pride and honour and the stature of the medal will develop alongwith the European Nations Cup".