But for the player of 20 years and coach for dozen of them - his attempt at turning a knot of rugby-ignoramus kids in Mumbai’s premier school into admirers of the game was one long exercise in persuasion - nothing short of wooing. Back home in his village of Souillac, they took to the oblong ball with the wild words of wisdom that declared that while rugby was the brutish sport played by gentlemen, football was a sport of gentlemen, played essentially by the hooligans.

The French may have lost to the Irish in the ongoing Six Nations Cup, but from where he comes from - southern France, rugby out-strips football often in numbers and popularity. Now, to convince doting Indian parents that it wasn’t exactly a sport marked out for devilish brats — needed plentiful effort, and Bert says it’s the bigger challenge than getting the kids to back-pass.

“It’s difficult to convince parents that it is a safe sport, because the sport’s promotion ends up showing it as violent. That’s a misconception. It’s tough, not necessarily bloody. So, to tell their folks that you can trust me with you child becomes a challenge,” he says of the delicate parent-PE teacher relationship he seeks to build. It was no surprise that he started cautiously -picking the biggest boys from Class XII even if it was only touch-rugby that he would train them in.

The 30-something PE coach has travelled and trained teams of youngsters, professionals and girls across the world - from Mexico to Kuwait, and came to Dhirubhai Ambani school on a contract, making him in charge of physical education in general, even as he initiated a rugby programme for the interested students who till then did a harmless imitation throwing around a handkerchief. With the ball, they return home with bruises and ripped shirts occasionally, but both parents and children have generally bought into the idea that rugby’s a fun activity. It competes with assorted choices - ballet and crafts amongst them in the co-curricular section - but those who’ve gotten smitten to the carefree sport, have stayed hooked to it, with teams coming up in juniors and youth sections.

Basketball’s the most popular sport on campus, say students, and Bert is quick to squash all other reservations that centre around the C-word. “We aren’t competing with any sport. In fact, like cricket - rugby has its various formats 12-a-side, 10-a-side, 7-a-side and even tag-rugby, which are all very popular. The sport’s a hot favourite for the 2012 Games in London, and like T20, it is entertaining at the same time showcases exceptional athletes with superior fitness,” he says.

The school’s not done too badly in its second year at the inter-schools competition. But not unlike any rugby coach, Bert insists that it is not a sport that can be forced down anyone’s throat. “Only those who enjoy it will do well. And the idea is to have a good time, learn a sportsman’s attitude,” he says, even as young boys from rival schools walk past him, bravely challenging him to a possible final-showdown in the next schools’ edition. “See,” he points out - as the first lessons in fearlessness are learnt.

Rugby lessons at the school which is fortunate to have an expansive, grass-cushioned pitch are at the mercy of academics, parents’ permission, understanding of the rules - “People complicate rules, rugby’s not complicated,” Bert defends. But the numbers have only grown. “At first we started because there was no hassle of getting selected. Whoever came for practice could just play - that was brilliant,” says a huge, chubby sort of a 16-year-old, who doesn’t find himself out of place, as his size becomes some sort of a prized boon. Girls too find the sport extremely liberating - and they don’t mind the occasional scratch, if fitness and courage are the up-sides of the barter.