Jacques Merquey

Jacques Merquey, was a French rugby league player, his position was centre, later in his career this changed to stand-off. He played for the Avignon rugby league club, S.O.A XIII, becoming the most capped International, with 37 games for France. Merquey is the only Frenchman to play in the first three successive World Cups, in 1954, 1957 and 1960.

Merquey originally played rugby union, where he also represented France, in a total of four games against England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland in 1950. In 1951 he was part of the first ever French tour of Australia.

He played in the first ever Rugby League World Cup in 1954 on the 30th of October, where his French side beat New Zealand. He played strong a strong role in France's draw with Great Britain and scored a crucial try in the win over Australia to secure a position in the final, where France lost 12 to 6 to Great Britain.

In the 1957 Rugby League World Cup, he captained France, scoring a try in the loss to Great Britain and leading them to victory over New Zealand. He was then selected to captain the Rest-of-the-World side against Australia.

The 1960 Rugby League World Cup would be his last, where he played stand-off in all of France's games.