WHAT happened in Paris last weekend shocked the world.

It was a stark reminder of the dangerous and unpredictable times we live in and how the values we hold so dear, like our freedom, are being attacked so callously and indiscriminately.

Following such scenes of devastation, nowhere seems safe.

But, no matter how hard we want to think like that, we can’t.

It also feels so wrong to bring sport into the debate when 129 people tragically lost their lives and many more remain critically injured in hospital.

At times like these, sport seems meaningless.

Yet it isn’t.

Tuesday night’s friendly at Wembley between England and France went ahead as a show of solidarity, both sets of players and supporters uniting as one.

It is easy sometimes to criticise football fans for acting in the wrong manner and tarnishing an occasion.

Here, it was very different.

It was respectful and correct.

It should not be forgotten that Lassana Diarra, whose cousin was among the dead in Paris, was in the French squad alongside Antoine Griezmann, whose sister escaped from cowardly gunmen at the Bataclan theatre.

Cancelling the match would have been the easy option but we must stand strong.

La Rochelle’s European Challenge Cup match against Worcester Warriors also went ahead at Sixways last Saturday with the world still coming to terms with events from just hours before.

A minute’s silence was impeccably marked prior to kick-off.

Similar scenes were replicated up and down the country.

Life must go on.

In seven months, France will stage Euro 2016, the draw for which is due to be held in Paris on Saturday, December 12.

There should be excitement around such an event, not least because England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are all involved in the competition for the first time.

That, however, feels rather low on the agenda at present.

Many, myself included, will no doubt ponder whether to travel to the tournament next summer.

There will inevitably be serious questions asked about security.

But we can’t let fear rule our lives, even if it is a lot harder to say than do at the present time.

If we do, then the terrorists have won.

By carrying on, we show we will not be beaten.