Legendary France No.8 Jean-Pierre Bastiat, one of the key figures in the 1977 Grand Slam, has passed away at the age of 71.
Bastiat was part of one of the greatest French back rows of all time, alongside Jean-Pierre Rives and Jean-Claude Skrela.
He played 32 times for France between 1969 and 1978, taking over the captaincy from Jacques Fouroux in his final year of Test rugby.
As well as the Grand Slam in 1977 when France used the same 15 players for the entire campaign – a unique feat in the history of the competition – Bastiat was also part of the teams that won the Five Nations in 1970 (shared with Wales) and 1973 (title shared between all five nations).
During the 1977 Slam, Bastiat scored the only try in the second half of France’s win in Ireland to seal the Slam in Dublin.
A former basketball player, he also played in the second row and was the go-to man in the lineout for Les Bleus.
He was also a capable goal-kicker, and kicked two penalties and a conversion in his international career.
A legendary figure at club side Dax, he retired in 1978 because of a knee injury. He went on to serve as an administrator both at Dax and with the French Barbarians.
The Fédération Française de Rugby paid tribute to Bastiat.
“The Fédération Française de Rugby has learned with deep sadness of the death, at the age of 71, of Jean-Pierre Bastiat, an iconic captain of France.
“French rugby is in mourning at losing a face of rugby. The FFR offer their condolences to his family and friends.”
