A FORMER teacher who developed a passion for French rugby league while organising exchange school visits to the country has published a second book on the subject.

Roger Grime has released 'Still Crowing' - a follow up to his 2015 book 'When the Cock Crowed', which told the story of how rugby league started in France and of the game's progress up to 1951.

He describes it as a "reference book for matches played by France between October 1951 and August 1960" which includes more than 400 rarely-seen photographs.

Former Central Modern, Cowley and Haydock High teacher Roger says it traces the record of when French rugby league was at its "peak", following the successful Australasian tour of 1951 with a 1955 series win Down Under and an epic comeback after a thrashing in Brisbane in 1960.

Roger, who spent 20 years putting information together for the books, with information being "difficult to come by".

He said: "This may be a niche market, but one that has been crying out for proper statistics and details of the matches played by the French international team.

"After all, they weren't even properly recorded in France!"

Roger, who is also a former press officer for English Schools' Rugby League, added: "My interest had been stirred through so many visits to France as I organised exchange rugby league visits by St Helens secondary schools to the Aude, an area containing the famous rugby league strongholds of Carcassonne, Limoux and Lezignan."

Roger, from Laffak, lists among friendships he has formed is Jean Cabrol, after whom hospitality suites at St Cuthbert’s High School are named in honour of.

He added: "Maybe there is another book in the pipeline?

I am considering carrying on the fabulous story of rugby league in France with a further book which will probably cover the years 1960 to 1972 – if I can find the material!"