-
Photo: French police stop driver over car covered in Christmas lights
Officers were appreciative of the decorations and took photos - but demanded that they were all removed
-
Aer Lingus to begin Bordeaux-Ireland flight route
The three flights per week will replace a service previously offered by Ryanair, which has now stopped all flights to and from Bordeaux
-
Cash, cheque, bank cards: What can shops legally refuse in France?
There are clear rules on how, when and why businesses can refuse to accept payment
Rugby fans make the Earth move
Geologists record mini-earthquake as Clermont celebrate winning French title
Rugby fans in France moved the Earth when their team won the championship – with earthquake monitors recording their every cheer.
Seismometers at an earth science laboratory in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, jumped each time the fans did – and went crazy at the end of a frantic match against Toulon when the ASM club captain Damien Chouly lifted the Bouclier de Brennus trophy after winning 22-16.
Jean-Michel Douchain of the Ecole et Observatoire des Sciences de la Terre told Franceinfo that geologists first noticed the effects when Clermont winger Alivereti Raka scored a try after an 80m run at Stade de France in Paris.
Les supporters de l'ASM ont fait vibrer les sismomètres lors de la finale du Top14 dimanche soir ! #ASMRCT pic.twitter.com/3a0P8WVYNd
— jerome vergne (@jerome_vergne) June 6, 2017
A mini-earthquake was spotted that centred on the Place de Jaude in Clermont where ticketless fans were gathered.
But towards the end of the match the jumping fans sent the seismograph pen scratching as it recorded their excitement of finally winning a trophy just a month after losing in the European Champions Cup to English team Saracens.
Clermont have been on the losing side in the Top 14 championship final 11 times out of 12 and a penalty by scrum-half and man of the match Morgan Parra gave them the winning score. When the final whistle went the seismometer kept jumping for a large part of the night.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France
La joie des joueurs de l'@ASMOfficiel en soulevant le Bouclier de Brennus !
— Team Orange Rugby (@TeamOrangeRugby) June 5, 2017
Comment va la @TeamYellowArmy ce matin 😇 ? pic.twitter.com/TPRxge6D2B