Michel Sitjar (13 September 1942 – 10 June 2019) was a French rugby player best known for his time as a flanker in the 1960s. Born in Castelsagrat in southwest France, he combined regional club success with international appearances for France. His international record—thirteen matches for Les Bleus between 1964 and 1967—is often cited in contemporary profiles and archives such as his national team profile.

Playing position and characteristics

The flanker position Sitjar occupied is part of the loose forwards in rugby union. Flankers are expected to be among the most mobile forwards: they contest possession at the breakdown, make tackles across the field and support both attack and defense. Accounts of Sitjar's career describe him as a robust and hardworking forward of his era, adapting the physical demands of the role to the tactical patterns common in 1960s French rugby.

Club career and dual-code experience

Sitjar played club rugby for Sporting Union Agenais (SU Agen), a prominent Lot-et-Garonne club with a strong provincial tradition. Later in his career he also turned out in rugby league, joining XIII Catalan, a well-known Catalan club based near Perpignan. Switching between rugby union and rugby league—often referred to as "dual-code" experience—was notable because the two codes had different rules, cultures and, at the time, separate professional structures.

International appearances and context

Selected for France during the mid-1960s, Sitjar earned international recognition across 1964–1967. Thirteen caps reflects a sustained involvement at national level during an era when international fixtures were fewer than in later professional decades. His tenure coincided with a period of growing international competition and increasing athletic expectations for forwards.

Death and legacy

Sitjar died on 10 June 2019 in Lamagistère at the age of 76. Reports indicate he took his own life; contemporary coverage can be found in various press summaries and obituaries such as news reports. He is remembered in French rugby circles both for his regional club service and for representing his country at a time of important development in the sport. His career is an example of a player navigating both union and league pathways and of the strong provincial roots that have shaped French rugby.

  • Born: 13 September 1942, Castelsagrat
  • Position: Flanker
  • Clubs: SU Agen; XIII Catalan
  • France caps: 13 (1964–1967)
  • Died: 10 June 2019, Lamagistère