Denis Lalanne | |
---|---|
Born | 1 April 1926 |
Died | 7 December 2019
Anglet, France | (aged 93)
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Sports journalist |
Years active | 1955–2019 |
Denis Lalanne (1 April 1926 – 7 December 2019) was a French sports journalist who specialized in tennis, rugby union, and golf. [1]
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. [2] [3]
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, [4] the latter of which was adapted into a film. [5]
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. [6]