Late last week, Paris Quidditch (Paris, France) played its first match against another team, and it was international match against players from the USA.

During their spring vacation Boston University Quidditch (Boston, MA.) found itself with seven players in the city of Paris and decided to contact the Paris quidditch team for an impromptu match. The event was a casual one due to the late notice and so took place minus a snitch and brooms.  Paris and BUQ faced off against each other for match number one, before the teams swapped players for a second round.

Though Paris Quidditch just formed this past October, BUQ, a veteran US team that formed in the spring of 2008, was surprised at the level of competition the young Paris team brought to the field.

“The team had a ton of natural athletic talent and was in really good shape. By the end of the games the French team was starting to develop some good tactics and techniques, which was very impressive considering this was their first game against another team,” Joe Barkus, BUQ president said.

All of the ten team members of the Paris Quidditch team are in the STAPS program (translated: science and technology of sport and physical activity) at the University of Paris Descartes, where they are  studying the science of sports,  so each member of the Paris Quidditch team is an accomplished athlete outside quidditch. Corwin Falfus, vice president of Paris Quidditch, added that the Paris team practices twice, sometimes three times per week.  The effects of this athleticism became clear on the quidditch pitch.

Despite a few language barriers and differences in rules, the event was more than a success, and the teams found that they could both compete and work together surprisingly easily.

“To play quidditch internationally gave me such a sense of community. Although none of us were fluent in French, we were able to interact and connect with these people who enjoyed the same game we did, just thousands of miles away,” Ian Stack, a freshman chaser from Boston University, said.

The collaboration demonstrated by the Boston and Paris groups is another step toward a new era of international quidditch play, and both teams are happy to be at the forefront.  For the members of BUQ, the Parisian quidditch match was a perfect end to their spring vacation, and they hope to welcome Paris Quidditch to Boston at some point in the future. The Paris team echoed their sentiments.

“We think this meeting was very enriching for both teams;” said Falfus, “it was amazing, even if we played without brooms. For us it was a real pleasure, and we will host Boston University whenever.”