This "shield" is called a "pavois in French, it is used during a game called "les Joutes".
During "les joutes" 2 boats are facing, always one red and one blue, everybody row except one man per boat, they stand with a "pavois" to protect and a spear to push
The game is to try to make the other fall.......You are just allow to push the opponent on the pavois, not the body... The winner stay on the boat, the looser falls in the water....
This game is very popular in Languedoc, south of France, every summer, we used to see that...
I don't know if my explanations are good, so if you're curious, go and see : http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hxv9_joutes-languedocienne-a-sete_travel http://www.ot-sete.fr/www-rubrique-778-FR-SETE.html
