Roger Bourgarel

Roger Bourgarel is a French former rugby union international.

Biography

Born in Toulouse, Bourgarel was a speedy winger of Guadeloupean descent known as “La Flèche Noire”, which translates to "The Black Arrow". He played his club rugby for hometown club Stade Toulousain.
Bourgarel, capped nine times by France, played both Tests against the Springboks on the 1971 tour of apartheid South Africa, after his selection had caused much political controversy. The president of the French federation, Albert Ferrasse, had insisted on Bourgarel's place in the squad, a position supported by his South African counterpart Danie Craven. He became the first black rugby player to be granted permission by the South African government to tour the country.
Since 2020, Bourgarel has served as the mayor of the town of Prunet in Haute-Garonne.