France’s pétanque players have been barred from wearing jeans during the national championship as officials aim for a smarter image to help get the iconic Gallic game recognised as an Olympic sport.

The ban has provoked outrage among many enthusiasts.

The head of a club in Burgundy protested by turning up for an official tournament game dressed as a clown. The idea of a dress code sits oddly with the benign image of pétanque, or boules, as a pastime for pastis-sipping retirees in sleepy Provençal village squares.

The game, which consists of throwing hollow metal balls at a smaller wooden ball known as the “jack”, is often simply a pretext to meet friends over a few drinks on a sunny afternoon.

But boules is becoming increasingly competitive as the French Pétanque Federation steps up its campaign for Olympic recognition ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024.