About Jean Galia
Lived 1905 – 1949 (aged 43). Jean Galia was a French boxer, rugby league player and rugby union player.
Jean Galia (born 20 March 1905 in Ille-sur-Têt, Pyrénées-Orientales, died 17 January 1949 in Toulouse) was a French rugby union and rugby league footballer and champion boxer. He is credited with establishing the sport of rugby league in France in 1934, where it is known as rugby à treize ("rugby 13s").
Playing in the forwards, Galia made his international debut for the France national rugby union team in a 1927 test against England in Paris. After 20 internationals, He later played in France's first ever rugby league international, also against England in Paris, on 15 April 1934 and was captain of the France national rugby league team in its early days. Following France's tour of Northern England, Galia arranged a series of demonstration matches around France.
The Courtney Goodwill Trophy, international rugby league's first, was presented for the first time in 1936 and depicted Galia, along with other pioneering greats of the code, James Lomas (Britain), Albert Baskiville (New Zealand) and Dally Messenger (Australia).
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Important facts
People in Jean Galia's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Jean Galia's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Jean Galia?
French rugby union player (1905–1949)
When was Jean Galia born?
Jean Galia was born on 20 March 1905 in Ille-sur-Têt.
When did Jean Galia die?
Jean Galia died on 17 January 1949 in Toulouse.
What was Jean Galia's occupation?
Jean Galia was a boxer, rugby league player and rugby union player.
What nationality was Jean Galia?
Jean Galia was French.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jean Galia. https://biography.guide/jean-galia/
MLA: "Jean Galia." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jean-galia/.
Chicago: "Jean Galia." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jean-galia/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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