Denis Lalanne

{{Short description|French sports journalist (1926–2019)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Denis Lalanne

| image = Portrait Denis Lalanne-1.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Denis Lalanne

| birth_name =

| birth_date = 1 April 1926

| birth_place = Pau, France

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2019|12|07|1926|04|01}}

| death_place = Anglet, France

| nationality = French

| other_names =

| occupation = Sports journalist

| years_active = 1955–2019

| known_for =

| notable_works =

}}

Denis Lalanne (1 April 1926 – 7 December 2019) was a French sports journalist who specialized in tennis, rugby union, and golf.{{cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Actualites/Disparition-de-denis-lalanne-grande-plume-du-rugby/1087672|title=Disparition de Denis Lalanne, grande plume du rugby|date=7 December 2019|work=L'Équipe|language=French}}

Biography

As an adolescent, Lalanne attended boarding school in Seine-et-Oise, where he befriended Michel Bouquet. He then wrote for L'Équipe, a French daily sports newspaper. In this time period, he wrote several books on rugby, including Le grand combat du XV de France and La peau des Springboks.{{cite web|url=https://www.editionslatableronde.fr/Catalogue/la-petite-vermillon/le-grand-combat-du-xv-de-france|title=Le grand combat du XV de France|date=4 November 1993|work=La Table Ronde|language=French}}{{cite web|url=https://www.editionslatableronde.fr/Catalogue/les-classiques-du-rugby/la-peau-des-springboks|title=La peau des Springboks|date=16 May 2007|work=La Table Ronde|language=French}}

In 1978, Lalanne led the commentary for the France-Scotland rugby match with Georges de Caunes, and the French Open.

His book Le grand combat du XV de France was adapted into a documentary film in 2006 by Serge Tignères and Étienne Bellan Huchery. A limited edition box set was released by the French Rugby Federation.

In 2011, Lalanne founded the Festival Singe-Germain in Saint-Germain-des-Prés with Jean Cormier, a sports and cultural festival.

Novels written by Lalanne include Un long dimanche à la campagne and Le devoir de français,{{cite web|url=http://www.gallimard.fr/Catalogue/Table-Ronde/Vermillon/Le-devoir-de-francais|title=Le devoir de français|date=24 September 1974|work=Gallimard|language=French}} the latter of which was adapted into a film.{{cite AV media |people= |date= 21 July 1978|title=Le Devoir de français|trans-title= |medium= |language=French|url=|access-date=|format= |time= |location=Paris|publisher=TF1|id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |ref= }}

He still had a weekly column for Midi olympique until his death.

In 2012, an award in Lalanne's name was founded by the French Tennis Federation called the Prix Denis-Lalanne. The prize is given to the best French-language article written during the French Open.

In April 2019, Lalanne published his last novel, Dieu ramasse les copies.

Denis Lalanne died in his home in Anglet, France on 7 December 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/2019/12/07/la-mort-de-denis-lalanne-6927999-773.php|title=L’écrivain et journaliste sportif Denis Lalanne est mort|date=7 December 2019|work=Sud-Ouest.fr|language=French}}

Works

  • Jean Borotra - Roger Courtois - Jean et Maurice Prat (1955)
  • La mêlée fantastique (1961)
  • Le Grand Combat du Quinze de France (1962)
  • Le Tennis (1963)
  • Les Coquelicots de Cardiff (1965)
  • La Girouette en deuil (1968)
  • Géants du Rugby (1970)
  • Les conquérants du XV de France (1970)
  • Les nouveaux géants du rugby (1974)
  • Dauga (Podium) (1975)
  • Grand Chelem (1977)
  • Nous reviendrons à Eden Park : le fabuleux roman de la Coupe du monde de rugby 1987 (1987)
  • Golf 1987 : le roman de l'année (1987)
  • Le grand combat du XV de France (1993)
  • Un long dimanche à la campagne (1995)
  • Le temps des Boni (2002)
  • Rue du bac : Salut aux années Blondin (2002)
  • Une table chez Romanoff (2003)
  • Élissalde de pères en fils (2006)
  • Dicovale : Le dico non officiel du rugby (2007)
  • La peau des Springboks (2007)
  • Chronique Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2007 (2007)
  • Bergougnan : Un génie du rugby (2008)
  • Le rugby est ma patrie (2009)
  • Trois balles dans la peau (2011)
  • Allez les gazelles (2012)
  • Lignes d'avant(s) et lignes d'arrivée (2015)
  • La Famille Rugby (2015)
  • Rugbymania : French flair attitude (2016)
  • Dieu ramasse les copies (2019)

References