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{{short description|National rugby union team representing France}}
{{Distinguish|France national rugby league team}}
{{About|the men's team|the women's team|France women's national rugby union team}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox national rugby team
| Name = France
| Nickname = {{Nobr|''Le XV de France'' (The XV of France)}}<br>''Les Bleus'' (The Blues)
| Badge = Logo XV de France masculin 2019.png
| Badge_size = 110px
| Emblem = [[Gallic rooster]]
| Union = [[French Rugby Federation|Fédération Française de Rugby]]
| Coach = [[Fabien Galthié]]
| Captain = [[Grégory Alldritt]]
| Most caps = [[Fabien Pelous]] (118)
| Top scorer = [[Frédéric Michalak]] (436)
| Top try scorer = [[Serge Blanco]] (38)
| Home Stadium = [[Stade de France]]
| pattern_la1 = _XVFranceWC2023h
| pattern_b1 = _XVFranceWC2023h
| pattern_ra1 = _XVFranceWC2023h
| pattern_sh1 = _XVFranceWC2023a
| pattern_so1 = _XVFranceWC2023ha
| leftarm1 = 2C2D61
| body1 = 2C2D61
| rightarm1 = 2C2D61
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| socks1 = E63C34
| pattern_la2 = _XVFranceWC2023a
| pattern_b2 = _XVFranceWC2023a
| pattern_ra2 = _XVFranceWC2023a
| pattern_sh2 = _XVFranceWC2023h
| pattern_so2 = _XVFranceWC2023ha
| leftarm2 = FFFFFF
| body2 = FFFFFF
| rightarm2 = FFFFFF
| shorts2 = 2C2D61
| socks2 = FFFFFF
| World Rugby Rank = 4
| World Rugby Rank date = 16 October 2023
| World Rugby max = 1
| World Rugby max year = 2022
| World Rugby min = 10
| World Rugby min year = 2018
| First game = {{ru|FRA}} 8–38 {{ru-rt|NZL}}<br/>([[Paris]], France; 1 January 1906)
| Largest win = {{ru|FRA}} 96–0 {{ru-rt|NAM}} <br/>([[Marseille]], France; 21 September 2023)
| Largest loss = {{ru|NZL}} 61–10 {{ru-rt|FRA|1974}} <br/>([[Wellington]], New Zealand; 9 June 2007)
| World cup apps = 9
| World cup first = 1987
| World cup best = ''Runners-up'' ([[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]], [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]])
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport |Men's [[Rugby union at the Summer Olympics|rugby]]}}
{{MedalGold |[[Rugby union at the 1900 Summer Olympics|1900 Paris]] | [[Rugby union at the 1900 Summer Olympics#Rosters|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics|1920 Antwerp]] | [[Rugby union at the 1920 Summer Olympics#Medalists|Team]]}}
{{MedalSilver |[[Rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics|1924 Paris]] | [[Rugby union at the 1924 Summer Olympics#Medalists|Team]]}}
| website = {{url|https://www.ffr.fr/equipe-de-france/rugby-a-xv/xv-de-france-masculin|ffr.fr/xv-de-france}}
}}
The '''France national rugby union team''' ({{lang-fr|Équipe de France de rugby à XV}}) represents the [[French Rugby Federation]] (FFR; {{lang|fr|Fédération française de rugby}}) in men's international [[rugby union]] matches. Colloquially known as ''Le XV de France'' ([[French language|French]] for "The XV of France"), the team traditionally wears blue shirts with a [[Gallic rooster]] embroidered on the chest, white shorts and red socks in reference to the [[Flag of France|French national flag]]. ''Les Bleus'' (French for "The Blues") mostly play home matches at the [[Stade de France]] in [[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]], near Paris. They compete in the annual [[Six Nations Championship]] along with [[England national rugby union team|England]], [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]], [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]], [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]] and [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]. France have won the tournament on 26 occasions (as well as sharing 8 victories), winning the [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]] 10 times.
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British before a first France national team was formed in 1893 (as a selection of the best Parisian-club players under the [[Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques|USFSA]] governance) to face a club in England. A few years later, on New Year's Day 1906, the national side played its first [[Test match (rugby union)|test match]] against [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] in Paris. France then played sporadically against the [[Home Nations]] until they joined them in 1910 to form the Five Nations Championship. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early [[Rugby union at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]], winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s. The national team came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, winning their first Five Nations title outright in 1959. They won their first Grand Slam in [[1968 Five Nations Championship|1968]]. Their last win in the tournament dates back to [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]] under head coach and former team-captain [[Fabien Galthié]], who is currently in charge of the selection.
France has competed in every [[Rugby World Cup]] since it began in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], and qualified for the knock-out stage each time. They have reached the final three times, losing to New Zealand in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]] and [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]], and to [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] in [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]]. France hosted the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]], where, as in [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]], they were beaten in the semi-finals by [[England national rugby union team|England]]. In [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023]] they hosted for a second time, but they succumbed to [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]], the eventual winners, in the quarter-finals by a margin of one point.
==History==
{{main|History of the
{{see also|Rugby union in France}}
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by English merchants and students.<ref name="hundyears">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/09/france.edvulliamy |title=Rugby union: Defeated France has the blues |work=The Observer |access-date=14 March 2009 |location=London |first=Ed |last=Vulliamy |date=9 September 2007}}</ref> On 26 February 1890,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportycious.com/france-national-rugby-union-team-91933|title=History, Records of France National Rugby Union Team|last=siddharth|date=2014-09-19|website=Sportycious|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref> a French rugby team recruited from the [[Lycée Janson de Sailly|Janson Desailly Lyceum]] defeated an international team at the [[Bois de Boulogne]].<ref>[[The Daily Graphic (UK)|''The Daily Graphic'']], Monday, 3 March 1890</ref>
Although France
France were ejected from the Five Nations in 1932 after being accused of professionalism in the French leagues at a time when rugby union was strictly amateur.<ref name="fivenations">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rugbyworld.com/Story/0,18830,3551_1884973,00.html |title=2/3/4/5/6 Nations Winners |magazine=Rugby World |access-date=4 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006193153/http://www.rugbyworld.com/Story/0%2C18830%2C3551_1884973%2C00.html |archive-date=6 October 2007 }}</ref><ref name="nationshistory">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/1776391.stm |title=Six Nations history |work=BBC Sport |date=28 January 2002 |access-date=2 April 2007}}</ref> Forced to play against weaker opposition, France went on a winning streak; winning ten games in a row during the years from 1931 to 1936.<ref name="WinningStreak">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbydata.com/france/mostwinsinarow |title=France > Most Wins in a row |publisher=rugbydata.com |access-date=17 May 2007 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202939/http://www.rugbydata.com/france/mostwinsinarow |url-status=dead }}</ref> France was invited to rejoin the Five Nations in 1939 but did not compete until 1947 as international rugby was suspended during [[World War II]].<ref name="nationshistory"/>
French rugby came of age during the 1950s and 1960s: they won their first Five Nations championship and completed a successful tour of South Africa.<ref name="nationshistory"/> Their first championship was won in 1954 when they shared the title with England and Wales.<ref name="nationshistory"/><ref name="results">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/international/4629242.stm|title=Six Nations roll of honour |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 April 2007 |date=18 December 2007}}</ref> France won their first outright Five Nations championship in 1959; they won with two wins, a draw (against England) and a defeat (against Ireland).<ref name="results"/>
France first toured South Africa winning the test series in 1958. The Springboks also visited Paris in 1961, the test was not completed due to onfield fighting amongst the players. France also toured [[New Zealand]] and Australia in 1961 losing both tests against the All Blacks but defeating Australia's [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]]. They won their first [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Five Nations Grand Slam]] in 1968 by beating all four other competing teams, and won numerous titles in the following years.<ref name="results"/>
[[File:France-Wales 24022007 - 10.jpg|thumb|left|France playing Wales during the [[Six Nations Championship]].]]
In 1977, France won their second Grand Slam, fielding an unchanged side throughout the tournament and conceding no tries.<ref name="results"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Seeckts|first=Richard|title=A frugal French victory|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/177287.html|publisher=espnscrum.com|access-date=25 February 2013}}</ref> They also defeated the All Blacks in [[Toulouse]] that year, but lost the return match in Paris.<ref name="tourfra">{{cite web|url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/tourbreak.asp?IDID=77 |title=1977 in France |publisher=allblacks.com |access-date=2 April 2007}}</ref> On [[Bastille Day]], 1979 they defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time, at [[Eden Park]] in [[Auckland]].<ref name="ABGame79">{{cite web|url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&MT_ID=1753 |title=184th All Black Test : 753rd All Black Game |publisher=allblacks.com |access-date=2 April 2007}}</ref>
In 1981 the French clinched their third Grand Slam; at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] against England.<ref name="results"/> They again completed a Grand Slam in 1987 on the eve of the first [[Rugby World Cup]] hosted by Australia and New Zealand. In that tournament they came from behind numerous times to defeat the Wallabies in their semi-final, and faced the All Blacks in final at Eden Park, Auckland; France lost 29–9. They shared the Five Nations with Wales the next year, and also won it in 1989.<ref name="results"/>
France hosted some of the tests during the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991 World Cup]], but were knocked out by England at the Parc des Princes (Paris) in the quarter-finals. France won the Five Nations championship in 1993. In 1994 France won [[1994 France rugby union tour of Canada and New Zealand|a test series]] 2–0 in New Zealand.<ref name="tour1">{{cite web|url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/tourbreak.asp?IDID=126 |title=1994 France in New Zealand |publisher=allblacks.com |access-date=2 April 2007}}</ref> They were knocked out of the [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 World Cup]] semi-finals by eventual champions the Springboks, but did win their third place play-off match against England. In November 1995, France played the All Blacks in two tests, winning the first 22–15 at Toulouse and losing the second 37–12 at Paris. France won back-to-back Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998. At the [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999 World Cup]] they defeated tournament favourites the All Blacks in the semi-finals, but lost to the Wallabies in the final.<ref name="results"/>
The Five Nations Championship was expanded in 2000 to include Italy. In the now Six Nations Championship France won a Grand Slam in 2002.<ref name="results"/> At the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 World Cup]] in Australia they qualified for the semi-finals where they were defeated by eventual champions England. In 2004, they won a second Six Nations Grand Slam, which was followed by a Championship win in 2006 and a successful defence in 2007.<ref name="results"/>
During the opener of the [[Rugby World Cup 2007|World Cup 2007]], [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] defeated France 17–12. However, after defeating [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] 25–3, France qualified for the quarter-finals. After defeating the New Zealand [[All Blacks]] 20–18, they lost to England 14–9 in the semi-final. France then lost for a second time to [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] 34–10 in the third-place match. In 2010, France won its ninth Grand Slam.<!--This is only a summary, please consider expanding [[History of the France national rugby union team]] instead of this summary-->
During the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]], France defeated [[Welsh national rugby union team|Wales]] 9–8 in the semi-final at [[Eden Park]] in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]], on 15 October 2011 and in the following week they lost 8–7 to the All Blacks in the final to make it three final defeats.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/rugby-world-cup/8827806/Wales-8-France-9-match-report.html The Daily Telegraph] ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 15 October 2011.</ref>
During the [[2015 Rugby World Cup]], France lost 62–13 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
In the [[2019 Rugby World Cup]], France lost to Wales 20–19 in the quarter-finals.
The French rugby team recorded a perfect season in 2022 having won all 13 matches.<ref>{{cite web |title=France record perfect season |url=https://rugby365.com/countries/france/france-record-perfect-season/ |publisher=Rugby 365 |access-date=9 August 2023}}</ref>
During France's home [[2023 Rugby World Cup]], they lost to South Africa, the eventual victors, 28-29 in the quarter-finals.
==Team image==
===Colours and kits===
[[File:France v great britain 1900.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|France in their first shirt before playing Great Britain in October 1900]]
Until 1912, the [[Uniform#Sports|strip]] (uniform) of the French team was white with two rings (the symbol of [[Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques|USFSA]], the body that ruled the sport in France by then). After the first game won by France against Scotland in 1911, France's captain Marcel Communeau asked that the team adopt the {{Lang|fr|coq gaulois}} (Gallic rooster), historical emblem of France, as its symbol.<ref name="logo2">{{in lang|fr}} {{cite web |url=http://rugby-nomades.qc.ca/info-nomades/histoire_1911.php |title=2 janvier 1911 : la naissance d'une Nation |publisher=Rugby-nomades.qc.ca |access-date=4 March 2007 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920174513/http://rugby-nomades.qc.ca/info-nomades/histoire_1911.php |archive-date=20 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The Gallic rooster was probably chosen partly because it is considered as a proud and combative animal that can be sometimes aggressive, although it had been used previously as a symbol by French teams – a former [[association football]] player, Jean Rigal, wore a uniform with this emblem as early as May 1910.<ref name="logo3">{{cite web |url=http://crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr/rugby/arts/5-01-02.pdf |title=Le coq dans le sport |publisher=Crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr |access-date=4 March 2007 |language=fr |archive-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815164225/http://crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr/rugby/arts/5-01-02.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The badge was initially white and red, but was altered to a multicoloured, embroidered image after 1945, and has been golden since 1970.<ref name="logo4">{{cite web |url=http://crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr/rugby/arts/5-01-01.pdf |title=Le coq sportif |publisher=Crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr |access-date=4 March 2007 |language=fr |archive-date=14 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614043732/http://crdp.ac-bordeaux.fr/rugby/arts/5-01-01.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The symbol used by the French rugby team was a great success, and was later adopted by the French delegation at the Olympic Games of 1920 where the rooster was perched on five Olympic rings.<ref name="logo5">{{cite web |url=http://www.museedusport.fr/histoire_objet.php |title=Ecusson en forme de coq, devenu emblème national |publisher=Musee du Sport |access-date=4 March 2007 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010023538/http://www.museedusport.fr/histoire_objet.php |archive-date=10 October 2007 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The rooster has since become a well-known symbol of French teams. French players are sometimes called ''les coqs'' and some French supporters have been known to release roosters on the playing field before games.<ref name="RoosterField">{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0302_060302_france_birdflu_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316184246/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0302_060302_france_birdflu_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 March 2006 |work=National Geographic |access-date=25 June 2007 |date=2 March 2006 |title=Bird Flu Strikes at French Identity, Cuisine |last=Owen |first=James}}</ref>
[[File:ItalieFrance6Nations2019logo(cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|Previous [[Gallic rooster]] crest used from 1998 to 2019]]
The French team traditionally played in blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks, the colors of the national flag, and as such were nicknamed ''Les Tricolores'' ([[French language|French]] for "The Tricoloured" or "The Red, White and Blues"). Due to the mostly blue strip the French team currently wears, the team is now often referred to as ''Les Bleus'' (French for "The Blues"), like many other French sporting teams. When this strip clashes with that of their opponents, such as in games against Scotland and Italy, French players wear white. New strips were developed for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]], one of which is a darker blue. In June 2011 they relaunched another kit which they wear blue shirt with a black and navy gradation, blue shorts and blue socks for their home kit and they wear white shirt, white shorts and white socks for their away kit.
In 2011, [[French Rugby Federation]] (FFR) announced that [[Adidas]] would be their new partner for a period of six years, with them taking over production of the France national rugby shirt from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2018.<ref name="adidasjersey">{{cite news|url=http://rugbyshirts.net/france-adidas-rugby-deal-5607.html|publisher=RugbyShirts.net|access-date=9 July 2012|date=9 July 2012|title=France into adidas for International Rugby from 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222010308/http://rugbyshirts.net/france-adidas-rugby-deal-5607.html|archive-date=22 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Led by newly elected president [[Bernard Laporte]], the federation intended on selling the jersey to a sponsor. The [[French Rugby Federation|FFR]] announced on 24 January 2017 that they had started the commercialisation of the jersey. In February, it was decided that the jersey would first be used to support France's bid for the [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023 World Cup]] by showing ''#France2023'' on the front of the kit.<ref>{{cite news|title=Équipe de France. Une publicité sur le maillot... pour la Coupe du monde 2023 |url=http://www.letelegramme.fr/rugby/equipe-de-france-une-publicite-sur-le-maillot-pour-la-coupe-du-monde-2023-09-02-2017-11395158.php|newspaper=[[Le Télégramme]]|date=9 February 2017|access-date=7 March 2017|language=fr}}</ref> In March 2017, the [[Mohed Altrad|Groupe Altrad]] showed its support for France's bid for the [[2023 Rugby World Cup|World Cup]] and the company's logo accompanied ''#France2023'' on the jersey. The group became the first private company in history that appeared on the France national team kits.<ref>{{cite news|title=XV de France - Le nouveau maillot des Bleus avec le logo Altrad|url=http://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/6-nations/2017/xv-de-france-le-nouveau-maillot-des-bleus-avec-le-logo-altrad_sto6084155/story.shtml|publisher=[[Rugbyrama]]|date=7 March 2017|access-date=7 March 2017}}</ref> As of 2017 and France's successful bid to host the World Cup, Groupe Altrad signed a contract with the FFR, appearing solely on the jerseys.
In 2017, FFR announced that [[Le Coq Sportif]] would once again be their supplier for a period of six years, with them taking over production of the France national rugby shirt from July 2018 to June 2024.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/sport/xv-de-france-le-coq-sportif-remplace-adidas-comme-equipementier-06-06-2017-2133230_26.php |title= XV de France: Le Coq Sportif remplace Adidas comme équipementier |date=7 June 2017 |magazine=[[Le Point]] |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> On 28 June 2019, the Federation unveiled a new France Rugby logo which replaced the red and golden rooster and the previous governing body abstract logo. The red and stylised rooster was designed in order to be used as France teams' crest and FFR badge.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://actu.fr/sports/rugby/pro/la-federation-francaise-rugby-devoile-nouvel-embleme-logos_25563820.html |title=La Fédération Française de Rugby dévoile son nouvel emblème et ses logos |date=28 June 2019 |website=Actu.fr |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref> A few months before the 2023 World Cup kick-off, incoming FFR president Florian Grill announced Adidas' return as France's kit manufacturer from June 2024.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Adidas-sera-l-equipementier-des-equipes-de-france-de-rugby-a-partir-de-2024/1402863 |title=Adidas sera l'équipementier des équipes de France de rugby à partir de 2024 |date=15 June 2023 |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
====Kit suppliers====
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
! Period
! Kit manufacturer
! Main shirt sponsor
|-
| 1970–1975 ||style=text-align:left| [[Le Coq Sportif]] || —
|-
| 1976–1979 ||style=text-align:left| [[Adidas]] || —
|-
| 1980–1986 ||style=text-align:left| Le Coq Sportif || —
|-
| 1985–1986 ||style=text-align:left| [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] || —
|-
| 1986–1998 ||style=text-align:left| Adidas || —
|-
| 1998–2012 ||style=text-align:left| Nike || —
|-
| 2012–2017 ||style=text-align:left| Adidas || —
|-
| 2017–2018 ||style=text-align:left| Adidas ||rowspan=2|Groupe Altrad
|-
| 2018–2024 || style=text-align:left| Le Coq Sportif
|-
| 2024–2028 || style=text-align:left| Adidas || {{TBA}}
|}
====Kits timeline====
{{Commons|France national rugby union team kits}}
{| class="wikitable"
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra1906
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = ffffff
| body = ffffff
| rightarm = ffffff
| shorts = ffffff
| socks = 000000
| title = First matches
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra1915
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = 0099CC
| body = 0099CC
| rightarm = 0099CC
| shorts = FFFFFF
| socks = FF0000
| title = Circa 1915
}}
|{{Football kit|
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra60h
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = 0066CC
| body = 0066CC
| rightarm = 0066CC
| shorts = FFFFFF
| socks = FF0000
| title = 1960
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra70h
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = 1D4791|
| body = 1D4791|
| rightarm = 1D4791|
| shorts =
| socks = FF0000|
| title = 1970
}}
|{{Football kit|
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra85h
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = 18277C|
| body = 18277C|
| rightarm = 18277C|
| shorts =
| socks = FF0000|
| title = 1985–86
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _fra87h
| pattern_b = _fra87h
| pattern_ra = _fra87h
| pattern_sh = _france home adidas|
| pattern_so = _3_stripes_white|
| leftarm = 0000C0|
| body = 0000C0|
| rightarm = 0000C0|
| shorts =
| socks = FF0000|
| title = [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987 WC]]
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _fra91rwc
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _3_stripes_white
| leftarm = 18277C|
| body = 0000C0|
| rightarm = 18277C|
| shorts =
| socks = FF0000|
| title = [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991 WC]]
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _fra95rwc
| pattern_b = _fra95rwc
| pattern_ra = _fra95rwc
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _3_stripes_white|
| leftarm = 0000C0|
| body = 0000C0|
| rightarm = 0000C0|
| shorts =
| socks = FF0000|
| title = [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995 WC]]
}}
|}
<br>
{| class="wikitable"
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _fra99
| pattern_b = _fra99
| pattern_ra = _fra99
| pattern_sh = _bluesides
| pattern_so = _fra99
| leftarm = 0000C0|
| body = 0000C0|
| rightarm = 0000C0|
| shorts =
| socks = CE0404|
| title = 1999–2001<br>([[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999 WC]])
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _fra03h
| pattern_b = _fra03h
| pattern_ra = _fra03h
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _fra03
| leftarm = 0000C0|
| body = 0000C0|
| rightarm = 0000C0|
| shorts = 18277C|
| socks = DD0404|
| title = 2003–05<br>({{No wrap|[[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003 WC]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la =
| pattern_b = _france rugby home
| pattern_ra =
| pattern_sh = _fra2007h
| pattern_so = |
| leftarm = 000C51|
| body = 000C51|
| rightarm = 000C51|
| shorts = 000C51|
| socks = 000C51|
| title = 2007–09<br>({{No wrap|[[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 WC]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _XV de France domicile
| pattern_b = _XV de France domicile
| pattern_ra = _XV de France domicile
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so =
| leftarm = 000040|
| body = 000040|
| rightarm = 000040|
| shorts = FFFFFF|
| socks = FF0000|
| title = 2010–11<br>({{No wrap|[[2010 Six Nations Championship|2010 G. Slam]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _francerugby11h
| pattern_b = _francerugby11h
| pattern_ra = _francerugby11h
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _francerugby11h
| leftarm = 18327D|
| body = 18327D|
| rightarm = 18327D|
| shorts = 18327D|
| socks = 18327D|
| title = 2011–12<br>({{No wrap|[[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011 WC]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _franceleft15|
| pattern_b = _francekit1|
| pattern_ra = _franceright15|
| pattern_sh =
| pattern_so = _francesocks15|
| leftarm = 000066|
| body = 000066|
| rightarm = DE0023|
| shorts = 161C56|
| socks = FF0000|
| title = 2015–16<br>({{No wrap|[[2015 Rugby World Cup|2015 WC]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _XVfrance1920h
| pattern_b = _XVfrance1920h
| pattern_ra = _XVfrance1920h
| pattern_sh = _lecoqsportif
| pattern_so = _lecoqsportifrugby
| leftarm = 203BB0
| body = 203BB0
| rightarm = 203BB0
| shorts = FFFFFF
| socks = E50000
| title = 2019–20<br>({{No wrap|[[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019 WC]])}}
}}
|{{Football kit|
| align = left
| pattern_la = _XVFrance2122h
| pattern_b = _XVFrance2122h
| pattern_ra = _XVFrance2122h
| pattern_sh = _XVFrance2122h
| pattern_so = _lecoqsportifrugby
| leftarm = 001ECC
| body = 001ECC
| rightarm = 001ECC
| shorts = 001ECC
| socks = 001ECC
| title = 2021–22<br>({{No wrap|[[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022 G. Slam]])}}
}}
|}
===Media coverage===
France's [[Autumn rugby union internationals|autumn internationals]] and [[Six Nations Championship]] matches are televised by public free-to-air national broadcaster [[France Télévisions]] (especially by the main channel [[France 2]]) since 1975. French viewers can therefore follow and see a total of eight France national games without any charges. The [[Mid-year rugby union internationals|summer test matches]] meanwhile are fairly often televised by [[pay television]] channel [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]] while the [[Rugby World Cup|World Cup]] matches are broadcast by private free-to-air [[TF1]].<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/televisions-radio/article/2016/03/19/les-chaines-entrent-en-melee_4886265_1655027.html |title=Rugby : les chaînes entrent en mêlée |last=Constant |first=Alain |date=17 March 2016 |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/rugby/xv-de-france/pourquoi-les-matches-du-xv-de-france-au-japon-n-ont-pas-trouve-de-diffuseur-pour-l-instant-11375332.php |title=Pourquoi les matches du XV de France au Japon n'ont pas trouvé de diffuseur… pour l'instant |last=David |first=Arnaud |date=21 June 2022 |newspaper=[[Sud Ouest (newspaper)|Sud Ouest]] |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref> However, [[TF1 Group]], France Télévisions and [[Groupe M6]] announced details of a joint 2023 World Cup coverage, where each game of the tournament will be quite equally aired across three broadcasters. TF1 will broadcast 20 matches including most of the knockout phase and France matches, France 2 will air 10 matches including the France fixture against [[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] while [[M6 (TV channel)|M6]] will televise a total of 18 matches.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://groupe-tf1.fr/fr/communiques/le-groupe-tf1-sous-licencie-28-matchs-de-la-coupe-du-monde-de-rugby-2023-aux-groupes-francetv-et-m6 |title=Le Groupe TF1 sous-licencie 28 matchs de la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 aux groupes France TV et M6 |date=11 January 2023 |website=[[TF1 Group]] |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
France matches are also broadcast with full commentary on many public and private radio stations such as [[RMC (France)|RMC]], [[Sud Radio]] or local generalist [[France Bleu]] branchs. Furthermore, most of French daily and weekly newspapers follow the France national team just like sport specialist ''[[L'Équipe]]'' and especially rugby-focused ''[[Midi Olympique]]'' that is published every Monday and Friday.<ref>{{cite journal |language=fr |last1=Bonnet |first1=Valérie |last2=Boure |first2=Robert |date=1 March 2009 |title=Le rugby entre patrimoine, récit et communication. Le cas de Midi Olympique |url=http://journals.openedition.org/semen/8472 |journal=Semen |volume=26 |issue=26 |isbn=978-2848672434 |doi=10.4000/semen.8472 |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
As of June 2023, the French Rugby Federation social media (rebranded as ''France Rugby'') had more than 800,000 followers on [[Facebook]] and [[Twitter]], and over 700,000 on [[Instagram]]. ''France Rugby'' also posts videos of trainings and game weeks on its [[YouTube]] channel, where viewers can witness the players and staff routine in [[web series]].<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.ffr.fr/actualites/federation/2022-une-histoire-de-series |title=2022 : Une histoire de séries |last=Muzeau |first=Sylvain |date=26 December 2022 |publisher=[[French Rugby Federation|FFR]] |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
==Home grounds==
[[
In June 2012, the FFR announced that plans were under way for a new rugby-dedicated stadium to be constructed in [[Évry, Essonne|Évry]], {{convert|25|km}} south of Paris. The stadium was projected to cost €600M and have a seating capacity of 82,000. It was originally scheduled for completion by 2017,<ref>{{cite news|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=French rugby federation chooses new 82,000-seater stadium south of Paris|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/france/9365481/French-rugby-federation-chooses-new-82000-seater-stadium-south-of-Paris.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/france/9365481/French-rugby-federation-chooses-new-82000-seater-stadium-south-of-Paris.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|date=29 June 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but later delayed to 2021 or 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://grandstaderugby.fr/le-stade/les-dates-cles/ |title=Le Stade: Les dates clés |publisher=[[French Rugby Federation]] |language=fr |access-date=30 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024144722/http://grandstaderugby.fr/le-stade/les-dates-cles/ |archive-date=24 October 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In December 2016, FFR officially abandoned the stadium project.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12508/10695930/the-french-rugby-federation-abandon-plans-for-new-stadium |title=The French rugby federation abandon plans for new stadium |first=Charlotte |last=Bates |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |date=14 December 2016 |access-date=12 February 2017}}</ref>
===World Cup venues===
During the [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991 World Cup]], Pool D (which included France) matches were played
For the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 World Cup]], France was the primary host, and there were ten venues used for matches throughout the country ([[Cardiff]] in Wales and [[Edinburgh]] in Scotland also hosted some games).<ref name=wcvenues>{{cite web |website=rugbyworldcup.com |title=Destination France |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/destinationFrance/index.html |access-date=24 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027111553/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/destinationFrance/index.html |archive-date=27 October 2007|url-status=dead }}</ref> The French cities that hosted matches were Bordeaux (Stade Chaban-Delmas), [[Lens, Pas-de-Calais|Lens]] (Stade Félix Bollaert), [[Lyon]] (Stade Gerland), [[Marseille]] (Stade Vélodrome), [[Montpellier]] (Stade de la Mosson), [[Nantes]] (Stade de la Beaujoire), Paris (Stade de France, Saint-Denis and Parc des Princes), [[Saint-Étienne]] ([[Stade Geoffroy-Guichard]]), and Toulouse (Stadium de Toulouse). The final between [[England national rugby union team|England]] and [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] was played at Stade de France.<ref name="wcvenues"/>
France was again chosen to host in [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023]]. After a first choice of twelve venues, nine cities and stadiums were eventually selected for the tournament including five that were already used for the 2007 edition: biggest France stadium Stade de France (Saint-Denis – Paris), Stade Vélodrome (Marseille), [[Parc Olympique Lyonnais|OL Stadium]] ([[Décines-Charpieu]] – Lyon), Stade Pierre-Mauroy ([[Villeneuve-d'Ascq]] – [[Lille]]), [[Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux|Stade de Bordeaux]], Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne) as well as [[Allianz Riviera|Stade de Nice]], Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes) and Stadium de Toulouse. France will play matches at Stade de France, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Stade Vélodrome and OL Stadium. Their opening match against [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] will be held at Stade France like both semi-finals and finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://resources.world.rugby/worldrugby/document/2023/04/12/aa134dc8-301d-48ba-81b3-4b4434143adf/RWC-2023_Match-Schedule_ENG.pdf |title=Match schedule |publisher=[[World Rugby]] |access-date=24 June 2023}}</ref>
==Competitive record==
===Six Nations===
France
{{Six Nations wins}}
===Rugby World Cup===
{{Main|France at the Rugby World Cup}}
The French have competed at every [[Rugby World Cup|World Cup]] since the inaugural tournament in [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]. Although they have yet to win a World Cup, they have participated in the play-off stage of every tournament, and have reached the final three times.
In 1987 France took on pre-tournament favourites [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] at [[Concord Oval]] for a place in the final. In one of the greatest World Cup matches,<ref name="1987semi">{{cite news|work=BBC Sport|title=1987: France 30–24 Australia|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2965700.stm|date=24 September 2003|access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> the Australians appeared to be in control, leading 9–0, 15–12 and 24–21 at various stages of the match, only for the French to keep coming back.<ref name="1987semi" /> With the scores locked at 24–24 and the prospect of extra time looming, the French scored one of the most memorable tries in rugby history.<ref name="1987semi" /> Starting an attack from inside their own half, the French passed the ball through 11 pairs of hands before fullback [[Serge Blanco]] beat Wallabies hooker [[Tom Lawton]] to score a try in the corner.<ref name="1987semi" /> France won 30–24, and would face co-hosts [[All Blacks|New Zealand]] in the final at [[Eden Park]]. The French had not fully recovered from their magnificent effort in the semi-final,<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC Sport|title=1987: Kiwis see off France in final|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2960324.stm|date=24 September 2003|access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> and New Zealand won the anticlimactic decider 29–9.<ref name=1987Final>{{cite web|publisher=allblacks.com|title=231st All Black Test : 871st All Black Game |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=1871 |access-date=3 May 2007}}</ref>
In [[1991 Rugby World Cup|1991]] France met eternal arch-rivals [[England national rugby union team|England]] in the quarterfinal at [[Parc des Princes]]. Earlier in the year at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]] the two sides had played off for the Five Nations Grand Slam. The French scored three magnificent tries but were denied by the fearsome English forward pack.<ref name="Skinner">{{cite news|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=When Mick Skinner took the wind out of France|last=Gallagher|first=Brendan|date=10 October 2007|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/2323081/When-Mick-Skinner-took-the-wind-out-of-France.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/2323081/When-Mick-Skinner-took-the-wind-out-of-France.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=8 February 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a very tense and brutally physical match, the scores were tied at 10-all when the French were awarded a scrum five metres out from the tryline. French number eight [[Marc Cecillon]] looked set to score the try that would have won the game for the French. Suddenly he was hit and driven back in a tackle from opponent [[Michael Skinner (rugby union)|Mick Skinner]], a tackle which changed the momentum of the match.<ref name="Skinner" /> England went on to win 19–10 and eventually reached the Final. At the end of the match, France coach [[Daniel Dubroca]] angrily assaulted New Zealand referee [[Dave Bishop (rugby referee)|Dave Bishop]] in the players tunnel. He resigned soon afterwards.<ref name="Skinner" />
In [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]] France finished third overall, defeating England 19–9 in the third-place play-off after their defeat to South Africa in the semi-finals. After coming from behind to defeat the All Blacks in their [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]] semi-final,<ref name=1999Semi>{{cite web|publisher=allblacks.com|title=335th All Black Test : 1053rd All Black Game |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=2053 |access-date=3 May 2007}}</ref> France lost to Australia 35–12 in the final. In [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]] they finished fourth, losing the third/fourth place game to the All Blacks.<ref name=2003Fourth>{{cite web |website=allblacks.com|title=381st All Black Test : 1101st All Black Game |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/teamsheet.asp?MT_ID=2101|access-date=3 May 2007}}</ref> At the [[2007 Rugby World Cup|World Cup 2007]], after defeating New Zealand 20–18 in the quarter-final, France lost out to England in the semi-finals losing 14–9 after finishing the break 5–6 ahead. France lost to Argentina in the bronze final to finish the tournament fourth.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
France's [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]] campaign was marked by turmoil within the camp; reports before the tournament indicated as many as 25 of the 30-member squad had turned against head coach [[Marc Lièvremont]].<ref name="Imanol postmortem">{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/story/153440.html |title=Harinordoquy admits to French uprising |work=ESPN Scrum |date=31 October 2011 |access-date=31 October 2011}}</ref> In pool play, France had unimpressive wins over [[Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] and [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]], an expected loss to [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]], and a shock loss to [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]]. During this stage, Lièvremont heavily criticized the team in the media, further angering many of his players, with veteran back-rower [[Imanol Harinordoquy]] publicly critical of Lièvremont.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/france/rugby/story/151169.html |title=Harinordoquy hits back at Lièvremont |work=ESPN Scrum |date=4 October 2011 |access-date=31 October 2011}}</ref> Despite the losses, they qualified for the knockout stage. At this time, the players effectively rebelled against Lièvremont; after the tournament, Harinordoquy would tell the French rugby publication ''[[Midi Olympique]]'', "We had to free ourselves from his supervision."<ref name="Imanol postmortem"/> The team responded by defeating [[England national rugby union team|England]] 19–12 in the quarter-final and controversially beating [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]] 9–8 in the semi-final after Welsh captain [[Sam Warburton]] was sent off. The French proved admirable opponents in the final, however, losing out to New Zealand 8–7 to finish second for the third time in a [[Rugby World Cup]].{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
France are the third-highest World Cup points scorers of all time, with 1585 points. They are also the third-highest try scorers, and the second-highest penalty scorers.<ref name=RWCPoints>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=0/type=Points/team=0/statistics/index.html |title=Team Statistics |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |access-date=24 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205063730/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season%3D0/type%3DPoints/team%3D0/statistics/index.html |archive-date=5 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> France's [[Thierry Lacroix]] was the top points scorer at the 1995 tournament with 112 points,<ref name=RWC1995Players>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=1995/type=Points/team=0/player=0/statistics/index.html |title=Player Statistics |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |access-date=24 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216140334/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season%3D1995/type%3DPoints/team%3D0/player%3D0/statistics/index.html |archive-date=16 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and [[Jean-Baptiste Lafond]] was the joint top try scorer in 1991 with six tries (equal with [[David Campese]]).<ref name=RWC1991Players>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=1991/type=Points/team=0/player=0/statistics/index.html |title=Player Statistics |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |access-date=24 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142935/http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season%3D1991/type%3DPoints/team%3D0/player%3D0/statistics/index.html |archive-date=16 December 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[Vincent Clerc]] is top try scorer in 2011 with six tries as Jean-Baptiste Lafond 20 years earlier.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
{{France Rugby World Cup record}}
===Overall and rankings===
{{World Rugby Rankings|France|France|1|11|11|short=yes|history=yes}}
France were named [[World Rugby Team of the Year]] in 2002. When the [[World Rugby Rankings|World Rankings]] were introduced by World Rugby (then the International Rugby Board) in 2003, France were ranked fifth. During November 2003 France briefly occupied third place before falling to fourth by December that year. After falling to fifth during November 2004, France rose again to fourth by April 2005. During early 2006, France rose again, peaking at second in July that year. France were ranked number two in the world until falling to third in June 2007 after two successive defeats to the All Blacks. They then fell to fifth after losing to Argentina in the opening match of the 2007 World Cup.<ref name="RankingsArchive">Ranking archives can be found at the World Rugby website at [http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings www.worldrugby.org/rankings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160511133710/http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings |date=11 May 2016 }}; archived rankings are available by choosing a date in the "Choose Date" menu to the right of the "World Rugby Rankings" heading.</ref>
For the first time, France became world number one in July 2022.
France have won 451 of their 817 test matches.<ref name="FranceStats">{{cite news |url=http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;orderby=team;team=9;template=results;type=team;view=opposition |title=French Stats |work=ESPN Scrum |access-date=26 October 2020 |date=26 October 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114652/http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1%3Borderby%3Dteam%3Bteam%3D9%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dteam%3Bview%3Dopposition |archive-date=6 October 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a France national XV at test level up until '''17 March 2024'''.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style=font-size:90%
|-
!style=width:180px| Opponent
!style=width:50px| Played
!style=width:50px| Won
!style=width:50px| Lost
!style=width:50px| Drawn
!style=width:50px| Win %
!style=width:50px| For
!style=width:50px| Aga
!style=width:50px| Diff
|-
| {{ru|ARG}} || [[History of rugby union matches between Argentina and France|53]] || 38 || 14 || 1 || 71.69% || 1,285 || 838 || +447
|-
| {{ru|AUS}} || [[History of rugby union matches between Australia and France|52]] || 21 || 29 || 2 || {{#expr:21/52*100 round 2}}% || 975 || 1,144 || −169
|-
| {{flag|British & Irish Lions}} || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0% || 27 || 29 || −2
|-
| {{noflag|British Army}}|| 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 50.0% || 24 || 45 || −21
|-
| {{noflag|British Empire Forces}}|| 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0% || 6 || 27 || −21
|-
| {{noflag|British Empire Services}}|| 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 10 || 0 || +10
|-
| {{ru|CAN}} || [[History of rugby union matches between Canada and France|9]] || 8 || 1 || 0 || 88.9% || 315 || 119 || +196
|-
| {{ru|CZE}} || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 47 || 9 || +38
|-
| {{ru|ENG}} || [[History of rugby union matches between England and France|111]] || 44 || 60 || 7 || {{#expr:44/111*100 round 2}}% || 1,490 || 1,795 || −305
|-
| {{ru|FIJ}} || [[History of rugby union matches between Fiji and France|11]] || 10 || 1 || 0 || {{#expr:10/11*100 round 2}}% || 407 || 149 || +258
|-
| {{ru|GEO}} || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 105 || 22 || +83
|-
| {{ru|GER}} || 15 || 13 || 2 || 0 || 86.7% || 298 || 89 || +209
|-
| {{ru|IRE}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Ireland|103]] || 59 || 37 || 7 || {{#expr:59/103*100 round 2}}% || 1,679 || 1,311 || +368
|-
| {{ru|IRE|name=Ireland XV}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Ireland#XV Results|3]] || 2 || 1 || 0 || 66.67% || 34 || 29 || +5
|-
| {{ru|ITA}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Italy|49]] || 45 || 3 || 1 || {{#expr:45/49*100 round 2}}% || 1,528 || 572 || +956
|-
| {{ru|CIV}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 54 || 18 || +36
|-
| {{ru|JPN}} || 7 || 6 || 0 || 1 || 85.71% || 248 || 146 || +102
|-
| {{noflag|[[New Zealand national rugby league team|Kiwis]]}} || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0% || 9 || 14 || −5
|-
| {{ru|NAM}} || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 230 || 23 || +207
|-
| {{ru|NZL}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and New Zealand|63]] || 14 || 48 || 1 || {{#expr:14/63*100 round 2}}% || 868 || 1,624 || −756
|-
| {{noflag|[[Māori All Blacks|New Zealand Māori]]}} || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0.0% || 3 || 12 || −9
|-
| [[Image:Flag of rugby Pacific Islanders.svg|24px|border|link=Pacific Islanders rugby union team]] [[Pacific Islanders rugby union team|Pacific Islanders]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 42 || 17 || +25
|-
| {{ru|ROU}} || 50 || 40 || 8 || 2 || 80.0% || 1,315 || 462 || +853
|-
| {{ru|SAM}} || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 156 || 49 || +107
|-
| {{ru|SCO}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Scotland|103]] || 60 || 40 || 3 || {{#expr:60/103*100 round 2}}% || 1,602 || 1,356 || +246
|-
| {{ru|RSA}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and South Africa|46]] || 12 || 28 || 6 || {{#expr:12/46*100 round 2}}% || 720 || 994 || −274
|-
| {{ru|TON}} || 6 || 4 || 2 || 0 || 66.7% || 172 || 96 || +76
|-
| {{ru|USA}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and United States|8]] || 7 || 1 || 0 || 87.5% || 214 || 102 || +112
|-
| {{ru|URU}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100% || 27 || 12 || +15
|-
| {{ru|WAL}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Wales|104]] || 50 || 51 || 3 || {{#expr:50/104*100 round 2}}% || 1,619 || 1,622 || −3
|-
| {{ru|WAL|name=Wales XV}} || [[History of rugby union matches between France and Wales#XV Results|2]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 50.00% || 12 || 8 || +4
|-
| {{ru|ZIM}} || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 100.0% || 70 || 12 || +58
|- class=sortbottom
! Total !! 817 !! 451 !! 332 !! 34 !! {{#expr:451/817*100 round 2}}% !! 15,591 !! 12,745 !! +2,846
|}
==
===Coaching and management history===
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! class="unsortable" style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Picture
! class="unsortable" style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Head coach
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Tenure
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Tests
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Won
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Drew
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Lost
! style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Win %
! class="unsortable" style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"|Honours
|-
|[[File:Jean Prat en 1954 (cropped).png|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France}} [[Jean Prat]]
|1963–1967
{{WDL|33|21|4|8}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1967 Five Nations Championship]]
|-
|
|{{flagicon|France}} [[Fernand Cazenave]]
|1968–1973
{{WDL|decimals=2|34|11|5|18}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1970 Five Nations Championship]] – Shared win
|-
!—
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Jean Desclaux]]
|1973–1981
{{WDL|decimals=2|60|35|4|21}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1973 Five Nations Championship]] – Shared win<br>{{Gold1}} [[1977 Five Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]
|-
|[[File:Jacques Fouroux (1971, La Voulte).jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Jacques Fouroux]]
|1981–1990
{{WDL|decimals=2|82|49|4|29}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1981 Five Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[1983 Five Nations Championship]] – Shared win<br>{{Gold1}} [[1986 Five Nations Championship]] – Shared win<br>{{Gold1}} [[1987 Five Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[1988 Five Nations Championship]] – Shared win<br>{{Gold1}} [[1989 Five Nations Championship]]<br>{{Silver2}} [[1987 Rugby World Cup]]
|-
|[[File:Daniel Dubroca.jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Daniel Dubroca]]
|1990–1991
{{WDL|decimals=2|17|11|0|6}}
|—
|-
!—
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Pierre Berbizier]]
|1991–1995
{{WDL|decimals=2|39|26|1|12}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1993 Five Nations Championship]]<br>{{Bronze3}} [[1995 Rugby World Cup]]
|-
|[[File:14.04.1985. Finale coupe Stade-Narbonne. (1985) - 53Fi4586 (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Jean-Claude Skrela]]
|1995–1999
{{WDL|decimals=2|52|34|0|18}}
|{{Gold1}} [[1997 Five Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[1998 Five Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Silver2}} [[1999 Rugby World Cup]]
|-
|[[File:Jubilé Chabal-Nallet - 20150604 - Bernard Laporte.jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Bernard Laporte]]
|1999–2007
{{WDL|decimals=2|98|62|2|34}}
|{{Gold1}} [[2002 Six Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[2004 Six Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[2006 Six Nations Championship]]<br>{{Gold1}} [[2007 Six Nations Championship]]
|-
|[[File:Marc Lièvremont.jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Marc Lièvremont]]
|2007–2011
{{WDL|decimals=2|45|27|0|18}}
|{{Gold1}} [[2010 Six Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]<br>{{Silver2}} [[2011 Rugby World Cup]]
|-
!—
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Philippe Saint-André]]
|2011–2015
{{WDL|decimals=2|45|20|2|23}}
|—
|-
|[[File:22 July, 2011 Guy Novès (2).jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Guy Novès]]
|2015–2017
{{WDL|decimals=2|21|7|1|13}}
|—
|-
|[[File:Jacques Brunel (cropped).jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France|1974}} [[Jacques Brunel (rugby player)|Jacques Brunel]]
|2017–2019
{{WDL|decimals=2|24|10|1|13}}
|—
|-
|[[File:Fabien Galthié Feb 2023.jpg|65px]]
|{{flagicon|France}} [[Fabien Galthié]]
|2019–
{{WDL|decimals=2|50|38|1|11}}
|{{Gold1}} [[2022 Six Nations Championship]] – [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]
|-
| style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}" align="center" colspan=9 | ''Figures correct as of 16 March 2024. Only official competitive and test matches are counted.''<br>''Includes a cancelled {{colored link|white|2019 Rugby World Cup|2019 World Cup}} match against {{colored link|white|England national rugby union team|England}} awarded as a {{colored link|white|2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C#England vs France|0–0 draw}} and a cancelled {{colored link|white|Autumn Nations Cup}} fixture against {{colored link|white|Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji}} awarded as a {{colored link|white|Autumn Nations Cup#Group B|28–0 win}}.''
|}
Historically the role of France rugby union head coach has varied considerably. Due to the status of rugby union as an amateur sport for most of its history, the job of deciding tactics and running team trainings has often been that of the captain or senior players. Therefore, a comprehensive list of national coaches is impossible. The very first entitled head coach is former legend [[Jean Prat]] who won the [[1967 Five Nations Championship]] as a manager before leaving the team before the summer tour of South Africa a few weeks later. Next year, France then won the [[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]] in the [[1968 Five Nations Championship|1968]] edition without having a head coach, in self-management. Later that year, Fernand Cazenave took his duties. Two years after, he shared the [[1970 Five Nations Championship]] win with [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]].
Although coached by [[Jean Desclaux]] between 1973 and 1980, the French team's main influence during the late 1970 was captain [[Jacques Fouroux]]. Fouroux played [[Scrum-half (rugby union)|scrum-half]] and captained France to their 1977 Five Nations Grand Slam, during which France played a very forward-oriented style of rugby.<ref name="Dine155">Dine (2001), pg 155.</ref> Although the style of ''Fouroux's Gang'' was successful, it was criticised because it contrasted with the traditional open attacking style of French rugby.<ref name="Dine155"/> Fouroux was given the nickname "the little Corporal" – the same as [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]].<ref name="FourouxTelObituary">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/20/db2002.xml |title=Jacques Fouroux |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=20 December 2005 |access-date=6 May 2007 |location=London }}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Fouroux was named as Desclaux's successor in 1981 at the age of just 33. He continued to promote a forward-oriented style of play, and France won six Five Nations titles – including two Grand Slams – while he was coach. After nearly ten years in the role he resigned in 1990 after a defeat to Romania.<ref name="Dine160">Dine (2001), pg 160.</ref>
Fouroux was succeeded by [[Daniel Dubroca]], who coached the team to the 1991 Rugby World Cup.<ref name="Brine172">Brine (2001), pg 172–173.</ref> Dubroca's tenure as coach did not last long, however, as he resigned after violently confronting referee Dave Bishop following France's World Cup quarter-final against England.<ref name="Brine172"/><ref name="1992IHT">{{cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1992/03/19/rugb.php |title=French, in Anglo-Saxon Game, Can No Longer Rest on Latin Laurels|work=International Herald Tribune |access-date=6 May 2007 |date=19 March 1992|last=Patel|first=Tara |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124073710/http://www.iht.com/articles/1992/03/19/rugb.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=24 November 2006}}</ref> Dubroca was replaced by [[Pierre Berbizier]], who coached the team until after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.<ref name="BerbizierAttack">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6311205.stm|title=Berbizier launches Laporte attack |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 May 2007 |date=29 January 2007}}</ref> Berbizier's replacement, [[Jean-Claude Skrela]], coached France to Five Nations Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 before they came last in the tournament in 1999.<ref name="SkrelaQuit">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_union/523219.stm |title=Sport: Rugby Union Skrela steps down as French coach |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 May 2007 |date=16 November 1999}}</ref> He officially resigned following France's loss to Australia in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final. [[Bernard Laporte]] was appointed as Skrela's successor in November.<ref name="LaporteAppointed">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/rugby_union/532229.stm |title=Laporte gets France job |publisher=BBC |access-date=6 May 2007 |date=22 November 1999}}</ref> Laporte guided France through the [[2003 Rugby World Cup|2003]] and [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]s before stepping down to become Secretary of State for Sport. After [[Philippe Saint-André]] turned down the offer to replace Laporte, [[French Rugby Federation]] president [[Bernard Lapasset]] appointed [[Marc Lièvremont]] to guide France to the 2011 World Cup.<ref name="FranceCoach">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/7060642.stm|title=Lievremont appointed France coach |publisher=BBC|date=24 October 2007|access-date=25 October 2007}}</ref> Lièvremont's tenure as coach was marked by inconsistent and puzzling squad selection choices, and player discontent.<ref name="Lievremont">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/oct/21/marc-lievremont-france|title=Rugby World Cup final: Marc Lièvremont the loneliest musketeer |work=The Guardian|date=21 October 2011|access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> There were some bright moments, notably wins against New Zealand in Dunedin and South Africa in Toulouse, and the 2010 Six Nations Grand Slam.<ref name="Lievremont" /> But there was also a 59–16 loss to Australia in Paris, a 22–21 loss to Italy in the 2011 Six Nations, and a 19–14 loss to Tonga during the [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011 World Cup]].<ref name="Lievremont" /> In August 2011, before the World Cup, it was announced that Philippe Saint-André would replace Lièvremont and guide France to the 2015 World Cup.<ref name="Standre">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/14671978|title=Philippe Saint-Andre to replace Marc Lievremont as France boss |work=BBC Sport|date=25 August 2011|access-date=8 February 2012}}</ref> This came as no surprise to Lièvremont, as he had announced as early as May 2010 that he would not continue as the coach of France after the World Cup.<ref name="Standre" />
France did not impress under Saint-André, finishing no higher than fourth in the Six Nations during his tenure and even claiming the [[Wooden spoon (award)|wooden spoon]] in 2013. Following the 2015 Six Nations, he announced his resignation effective after that year's World Cup and was replaced by [[Guy Novès]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/french-rugby-federation-looking-saint-andre-replacement-134914807.html |title=French rugby federation looking for Saint-Andre replacement |agency=Associated Press |work=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=10 April 2015 |access-date=14 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129125546/http://news.yahoo.com/french-rugby-federation-looking-saint-andre-replacement-134914807.html |archive-date=29 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/12984883/guy-noves-confirmed-next-france-head-coach Guy Noves confirmed as next France head coach]</ref> France was even less impressive under Novès, with ''Les Bleus'' winning fewer than one-third of their matches during his tenure, capped off by a run of seven winless matches. Novès was dismissed in December 2017, becoming the first France head coach ever to be fired before the end of his contract, and was replaced by former Italy head coach [[Jacques Brunel (rugby player)|Jacques Brunel]], who arrived from the same position with [[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux Bègles]]. Novès' assistants were dismissed as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/21890219/guy-noves-replaced-jacques-brunel-france-rugby-head-coach |title=Guy Novès replaced by Jacques Brunel as French head coach |first=James |last=Harrington |publisher=[[BT Sport ESPN|ESPN (UK)]] |date=27 December 2017 |access-date=27 December 2017}}</ref>
In April 2019, then-French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte announced that [[Fabien Galthié]] would be appointed as head coach of the team after the [[2019 Rugby World Cup|2019 World Cup]]. A week later, Jacques Brunel also confirmed that Galthié joined the France management crew as an assistant to prepare the team for the 2019 World Cup. After the World Cup, the federation formalizes the new coaching staff structured around Fabien Galthié. [[Raphaël Ibañez]] was appointed general manager of the team along with four staff membres: [[William Servat]] and [[Karim Ghezal]] as forwards coaches; [[Laurent Labit]] as backs coach and Englishman [[Shaun Edwards]], responsible for the defense. [[Thibault Giroud]], former [[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]] head of physical training where he worked with Galthié, was also appointed as head of high permormance. Video analyst Nicolas Buffa retained his positions and became the analysis unit director.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/rugby/xv-de-france-voici-le-nouveau-staff-des-bleus-13-11-2019-8192553.php |title=XV de France : voici le nouveau staff des Bleus |date=13 November 2019 |newspaper=[[Le Parisien]] |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
After the [[2023 Rugby World Cup|2023 World Cup]], Ghezal, Labit and Giroud left the France coaching staff and were replaced respectively by [[Stade Français]] forwards coach [[Laurent Sempéré]], former international centre [[Patrick Arlettaz]] and [[Nicolas Jeanjean]] who became head of high performance.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://actu.fr/sports/rugby/xv-de-france/xv-de-france-patrick-arlettaz-va-remplacer-laurent-labit-comme-entraineur-de-l-attaque_59735273.html |title=XV de France. Patrick Arlettaz va remplacer Laurent Labit comme entraîneur de l'attaque |last=Mazella |first=Clément |date=15 June 2023 |website=Actu.fr |access-date=23 June 2023}}</ref>
===Current staff===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"| Position
!style="background:#0C3CD5; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|#C1342B|2px}}"| Name
|-
|General manager||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Raphaël Ibañez]]
|-
|Head coach||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Fabien Galthié]]
|-
|rowspan=2|Forwards and [[Rugby union#Set pieces|set piece]] coaches||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Laurent Sempéré]] (line-out)
|-
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[William Servat]] (scrum)
|-
|Backs and attack coach||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Patrick Arlettaz]]
|-
|Defence coach||{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Shaun Edwards]]
|-
|Head of high performance||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nicolas Jeanjean]]
|-
|Head of video analysis||{{flagicon|FRA}} Nicolas Buffa
|-
|Kicking coach||{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Vlok Cilliers]]
|-
|Discipline and refereeing advisor||{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jérôme Garcès]]
|}
<small>Sources:<ref>{{cite web |language=fr |url=https://www.ffr.fr/equipe-de-france/rugby-a-xv/xv-de-france-masculin/staff |title=XV de France Masculin : Staff |publisher=[[French Rugby Federation|FFR]] |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/sports/rugby/xv-de-france/xv-de-france-nous-avons-partage-nos-emotions-le-staff-des-bleus-a-lheure-de-la-rentree-des-classes-07-12-2023-TWC3PVJTQFGI5EMV3YQPF6A7MI.php |title=XV de France : « Nous avons partagé nos émotions », le staff des Bleus à l'heure de la rentrée des classes |last=François |first=Olivier |date=7 December 2023 |newspaper=[[Le Parisien]] |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Jerome-garces-on-doit-etre-lineaires-et-constants-sur-la-discipline/1444947 |title=Jérôme Garcès : « On doit être linéaires et constants sur la discipline » |last=Paturaud |first=Jean-François |date=27 January 2024 |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref></small>
==Players==
===Current squad===
On 17 January 2024, [[Fabien Galthié]] named France's final 34-man squad for the [[2024 Six Nations Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.ffr.fr/actualites/xv-de-france/tournoi-des-six-nations-le-groupe-pour-preparer-lirlande |title=Tournoi des Six Nations : Le groupe pour préparer l'Irlande |trans-title=Six Nations Championship: The training squad for the Ireland game |last=Muzeau |first=Sylvain |date=17 January 2024 |publisher=[[French Rugby Federation|FFR]] |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref> On 22 January, [[Anthony Jelonch]] and [[Emmanuel Meafou]] withdrew injured after sustaining damages in an [[2023–24 European Rugby Champions Cup pool stage|Investec Champions Cup]] game against [[Bath Rugby|Bath]] the day before and were replaced by uncapped [[Alexandre Roumat]] and veteran [[Paul Willemse]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2024/0122/1427972-france-duo-jelonch-and-meafou-out-of-ireland-game |title=France duo Jelonch and Meafou out of Ireland game |date=22 January 2024 |website=[[RTÉ]] |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Paul-willemse-remplace-emmanuel-meafou-avec-le-xv-de-france-pour-le-tournoi-des-six-nations/1443986 |title=Paul Willemse remplace Emmanuel Meafou avec le XV de France pour le Tournoi des Six Nations |trans-title=Paul Willemse replaces Emmanuel Meafou in France's squad for the Six Nations Championship |date=22 January 2024 |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref>
On 28 January 2024, [[Posolo Tuilagi]] and [[Lenni Nouchi]] were called up to the squad while [[Matthias Halagahu]] and Roumat were released. [[Léo Barré]] was also called up due to an injury to [[Melvyn Jaminet]].<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Melvyn-jaminet-forfait-pour-preparer-le-match-face-a-l-irlande-en-ouverture-du-tournoi/1445264 |title=Melvyn Jaminet forfait pour préparer le match face à l'Irlande en ouverture du Tournoi |trans-title=Melvyn Jaminet forfeit to prepare the match against Ireland in the opening of the tournament |date=28 January 2024 |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>
On 4 February 2024, [[Dany Priso]] was added to the squad, after [[Reda Wardi]] was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a fractured wrist, which was suffered during the opening round match against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/france-revamp-squad-after-ireland-humbling/ |title=France revamp squad with seven new players after Ireland humbling |website=Rugby Pass |date=4 February 2024 |access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref>
On 15 February 2024, [[Marko Gazzotti]] was added to the squad.<ref>{{cite news |language=fr |url=https://www.ffr.fr/actualites/xv-de-france/le-groupe-pour-litalie-3 |title=Tournoi des Six Nations : Le groupe pour préparer l'Italie |trans-title=Six Nations Championship: The training squad for the Italy game |last=Muzeau |first=Sylvain |date=15 February 2024 |publisher=[[French Rugby Federation|FFR]] |access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
'''Head coach''': {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Fabien Galthié]]
* '''Caps updated:''' 16 March 2024
{{nat rs start|hidenote=yes}}
{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Gaëtan|Barlot}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|4|13}}|caps=7|club=[[Castres Olympique|Castres]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Julien|Marchand}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|5|10}}|caps=37|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Peato|Mauvaka}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|1|10}}|caps=34|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Dorian|Aldegheri}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|8|4}}|caps=19|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Uini|Atonio}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|3|26}}|caps=62|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Cyril|Baille}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|9|15}}|caps=52|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Georges-Henri|Colombe}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|4|9}}|caps=2|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Thomas|Laclayat}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|10|2}}|caps=1|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Dany|Priso}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|1|2}}|caps=18|club=[[RC Toulonnais|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Sébastien|Taofifénua}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|3|21}}|caps=7|club=[[Lyon OU|Lyon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Thibaud|Flament}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|4|29}}|caps=26|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Paul|Gabrillagues}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|6|3}}|caps=18|club=[[Stade Français]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Emmanuel|Meafou}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|7|12}}|caps=2|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Romain|Taofifénua}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|9|14}}|caps=52|club=[[Lyon OU Rugby|Lyon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Posolo|Tuilagi}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2004|7|28}}|caps=3|club=[[USA Perpignan|Perpignan]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Paul|Willemse}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|11|13}}|caps=32|club=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Cameron|Woki}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|11|7}}|caps=30|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Esteban|Abadie}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|2|1}}|caps=1|club=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Grégory|Alldritt}} ([[Captain (sports)|c]])|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|3|23}}|caps=49|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Paul|Boudehent}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|11|21}}|caps=11|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|François|Cros}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|3|25}}|caps=32|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Marko|Gazzotti}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2004|9|24}}|caps=0|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Lenni|Nouchi}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|11|24}}|caps=0|club=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Charles|Ollivon}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|5|11}}|caps=44|club=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Alexandre|Roumat}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|6|27}}|caps=4|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Nolann|Le Garrec}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2002|5|14}}|caps=5|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Maxime|Lucu}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1993|1|12}}|caps=23|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name={{sortname|Antoine|Gibert}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|12|31}}|caps=0|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name={{sortname|Matthieu|Jalibert}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1998|11|6}}|caps=33|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Jonathan|Danty}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|10|7}}|caps=29|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Nicolas|Depoortère}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|1|13}}|caps=2|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Gaël|Fickou}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|3|26}}|caps=90|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Émilien|Gailleton}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|7|13}}|caps=1|club=[[Section Paloise|Pau]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Yoram|Moefana}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2000|7|18}}|caps=28|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Louis|Bielle-Biarrey}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|6|16}}|caps=11|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Matthis|Lebel}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|3|25}}|caps=6|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Damian|Penaud}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|9|25}}|caps=53|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|Léo|Barré}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|2002|8|20}}|caps=2|club=[[Stade Français]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|Thomas|Ramos|Thomas Ramos (rugby union)}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|7|23}}|caps=36|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs end}}
<!-- PLAYERS OFTEN CALLED-UP --DO NOT ERASE!
{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Pierre|Bourgarit}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|9|12}}|caps=14|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=HK|name={{sortname|Camille|Chat}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|12|18}}|caps=33|club=[[Racing 92]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Sipili|Falatea}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|6|6}}|caps=14|club=[[Union Bordeaux Bègles|Bordeaux-Bègles]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Jean-Baptiste|Gros}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|5|29}}|caps=27|club=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=PR|name={{sortname|Reda|Wardi}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|8|2}}|caps=15|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=LK|name={{sortname|Bastien|Chalureau}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|2|13}}|caps=7|club=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Anthony|Jelonch}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|7|28}}|caps=29|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=BR|name={{sortname|Sekou|Macalou}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|4|20}}|caps=20|club=[[Stade Français]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Baptiste|Couilloud}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|8|22}}|caps=16|club=[[Lyon OU|Lyon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
{{nat rs player|pos=SH|name={{sortname|Antoine|Dupont}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|11|15}}|caps=52|club=[[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=FH|name={{sortname|Antoine|Hastoy}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1997|6|4}}|caps=5|club=[[Stade Rochelais|La Rochelle]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=CE|name={{sortname|Arthur|Vincent|dab=rugby union}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|9|30}}|caps=18|club=[[Montpellier Hérault Rugby|Montpellier]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=WG|name={{sortname|Gabin|Villière}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|12|13}}|caps=16|club=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
--------------------------------------------------
{{nat rs player|pos=FB|name={{sortname|Melvyn|Jaminet}}|age={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|6|30}}|caps=19|club=[[RC Toulon|Toulon]]|clubnat=FRA}}
-->
===Selection policy===
In December 2016, when World Rugby was considering a change in the eligibility rules for international selection, FFR president [[Bernard Laporte]] announced that the body would require that all France national team members hold French passports. This requirement is in addition to then-current WR rules mandating three years' residency for international selection, a period which WR increased to five years effective from 31 December 2020.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/news/245382 |title=World Rugby announces historic eligibility regulation reform |publisher=World Rugby |date=10 May 2017 |access-date=10 May 2017}}</ref> Players who represented France prior to Laporte's announcement [[Grandfather clause|remained eligible for selection]] even if they did not hold French passports.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38389827 |title=France rugby team to stop selecting 'foreign' players, says Laporte |work=BBC Sport |date=21 December 2016 |access-date=21 January 2017}}</ref> Thus, since 2016 France have had the lowest number of foreign-born players in their Six Nations's squads.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/01/30/foreign-born-players-in-2019-six-nations/ |title=Foreign-Born Players in 2019 Six Nations |publisher=Americas Rugby News |date=30 January 2019 |access-date=5 February 2019}}</ref>
===Notable players===
Ten former France national team players have been inducted into the [[World Rugby Hall of Fame]], with an eleventh awaiting induction in 2023. Its direct predecessor is the IRB Hall of Fame, founded in 2006 by the sport's international governing body, [[World Rugby]], when it was known as the International Rugby Board. In late 2014, the IRB Hall merged with the separate [[International Rugby Hall of Fame]], with all International Hall inductees becoming members of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.<ref name="Hall of Fame merger">{{cite press release |url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2072560.html#rugby+greats+join+definitive+hall+fame |title=Rugby greats to join definitive Hall of Fame |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=10 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812213421/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2072560.html |archive-date=12 August 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="IRHFList">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=KMEHLYV0OCGYBQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/sport/2005/11/17/srgall17.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/11/19/ixrugu.html#1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212025346/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml;jsessionid=KMEHLYV0OCGYBQFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/sport/2005/11/17/srgall17.xml&sSheet=/sport/2005/11/19/ixrugu.html#1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 February 2006 |title=Joining the legends an added bonus for Wood |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=17 November 2005 |access-date=29 June 2007 |last=Gallagher |first=Brendan |location=London}}</ref><ref name="SellaIRBHOF">{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2027752.html#irb+hall+fame+welcomes+five+inductees |title=IRB Hall of Fame Welcomes Five Inductees |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=23 November 2008 |access-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223212347/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2027752.html |archive-date=23 February 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref name="2011 IRBHOF">{{cite press release|url=http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid=2042103.html#five+french+legends+into+irb+hall+fame |title=Five French legends into IRB Hall of Fame |publisher=International Rugby Board |date=19 March 2011 |access-date=18 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505200906/http://www.irb.com/history/halloffame/newsid%3D2042103.html |archive-date=5 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>
'''[[Marcel Communeau]]''' (1885–1971), a back-rower for [[Stade Français]] at club level, played in France's first official international match against New Zealand's [[The Original All Blacks|Original All Blacks]] in 1906. He went on to earn 21 caps for France, serving as captain for the country's first Five Nations appearance in 1910 and leading France to its first-ever win in that competition in 1911 against Scotland. Communeau is also credited with suggesting that France adopt the rooster as its team emblem. He entered the World Rugby Hall in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldrugby.org/halloffame/inductees/5091 |title=World Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees: Marcel Communeau |website=World Rugby |access-date=8 April 2017}}</ref>
'''[[Jean Prat]]''' (1923–2005) earned 51 caps playing for France from 1945 to 1955, and captained France to their first wins over Wales and the All Blacks.<ref name="JeanPratIRHF">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/prat2001.htm |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |title=Jean Prat |access-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120605042622/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/prat2001.htm |archive-date=5 June 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> He was also France's captain in 1954 when they won their first ever Five Nations (shared with Wales and England).<ref name="JeanPratOb">{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1699551,00.html |work=The Observer |title=Heroes of French rugby |date=5 February 2006 |access-date=29 June 2007 |location=London}}</ref> Prat was inducted to the International Hall of Fame in 2001<ref name="JeanPratIRHF"/> and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.<ref name="2011 IRBHOF"/>
'''[[Lucien Mias]]''' (1930–2024), nicknamed ''Docteur Pack'', was credited with inventing the concept of the advantage line in forward play. When inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011, he was called "one of the most influential captains of his country". He was most noted for captaining France to a Test series win over South Africa in 1958, the first such feat in the 20th century for a touring team.<ref name="2011 IRBHOF"/>
'''[[André Boniface]]''' (1934–2024) also played in France's win over the All Blacks in 1954; it was only his second test for France. Boniface went on to play 48 tests for France before retiring in 1966.<ref name="AndreBonifaceIRHF">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/boniface2005.htm |title=André Boniface |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908060549/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/boniface2005.htm |archive-date=8 September 2012 }}</ref> He was inducted to the International Hall in 2005<ref name="AndreBonifaceIRHF"/> and the IRB Hall in 2011.<ref name="2011 IRBHOF"/>
'''[[Guy Boniface]]''' (1937–1968) emerged on the international scene shortly after his older brother André, although the two did not play together in the same France side until 1961. According to the IRB, the Boniface brothers "redefined the concept of back play through their unique blend of skill and creativity." Guy won 35 caps for France before his death in an auto accident in 1968. He was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame alongside his brother in 2011.<ref name="2011 IRBHOF"/>
'''[[Jo Maso]]''' (born 1944) first played for France between 1966 and 1973; mainly at [[Centre (rugby union)|centre]]. He played in France's first ever Five Nations Grand Slam in 1968,<ref name="JoMasoGS">{{cite web|url=http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/RTD/0,,10301~791306,00.html|title=Leaping for joy at Grand Slam glory|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008151344/http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/RTD/0%2C%2C10301~791306%2C00.html|archive-date=8 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and that year toured New Zealand and Australia. He represented France in 25 tests and also played for the [[Barbarian F.C.|Barbarians]] and the World XV that beat England in 1971. Maso entered the International Hall in 2003<ref name="JoMasoIRHF">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/maso2003.htm |title=Jo Maso |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104162728/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/maso2003.htm |archive-date=4 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> and became a member of the World Rugby Hall with the merger of the two halls of fame.<ref name="Hall of Fame merger"/> He is now the manager of the France national team.
'''[[Jean-Pierre Rives]]''' (born 1952), a 1997 inductee of the International Hall who entered the World Rugby Hall with the merger, played 59 tests for France between 1975 and 1984; including 34 as captain. He played in Five Nations Grand Slams in 1977 and 1981, and captained France to their first ever win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.<ref name="RivesIRHF">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/rives1997.htm |title=Jean-Pierre Rives |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911173752/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/rives1997.htm |archive-date=11 September 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> Rives is now a sculptor, and designed the [[Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy]] (Italian: Trofeo Garibaldi; French: Trophée Garibaldi), which is competed for every year by France and Italy in the 6 Nations championship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2007/trophee_garibaldi__1|title=Trophée Garibaldi|date=2 February 2007|access-date=6 December 2011|language=fr|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516181651/http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/historique/2007/trophee_garibaldi__1|archive-date=16 May 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
'''[[Serge Blanco]]''' (born 1958) played in 93 tests for France between 1980 and 1991. Playing at [[Fullback (rugby union)|fullback]] Blanco won Five Nations Grand Slams with France in 1981 and 1987, and scored the match-winning try in France's semi-final against Australia in the [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987 World Cup]].<ref name="BlancoIRHF">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/blanco1997.htm |title=Serge Blanco |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121210130649/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/blanco1997.htm |archive-date=10 December 2012 |df=dmy }}</ref> He is past president both of his longtime club, [[Biarritz Olympique]], and France's national professional league, [[National Rugby League (France)|Ligue Nationale de Rugby]]. Blanco was inducted to the International Hall in 1997<ref name="BlancoIRHF"/> and the IRB Hall in 2011.<ref name="2011 IRBHOF"/>
Centre '''[[Philippe Sella]]''' (born 1962), who was also in the 1987 team, played 111 times for France between 1982 and 1995, setting an appearances record that stood until Fabien Pelous, who himself would be indicted into the World Rugby Hall in 2017, broke it during the [[2007 Rugby World Cup]]. In 1986, he achieved the rare feat of scoring a try in each of France's Five Nations matches.<ref name="SellaIRHF">{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/sella1999.htm |title=Philippe Sella |publisher=rugbyhalloffame.com |access-date=29 June 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912192929/http://www.rugbyhalloffame.com/pages/sella1999.htm |archive-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="SellaNobok">{{cite web|url=http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/RugbyBio/0,,10301~791507,00.html|title=Philippe Sella – Simply the best|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008151443/http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/RugbyBio/0%2C%2C10301~791507%2C00.html|archive-date=8 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Sella entered the International Hall in 1999<ref name="SellaIRHF"/> and the IRB Hall in 2005.<ref name="SellaIRBHOF"/>
Lock '''[[Fabien Pelous]]''' (born 1973) was inducted into the World Rugby Hall in 2017 at a ceremony at the Hall's physical location in [[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.worldrugby.org/news/293371?lang=en |title=Five legends inducted into World Rugby Hall of Fame |publisher=World Rugby |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=29 November 2017}}</ref> He appeared 118 times for France from 1995 to 2007, surpassing Sella as France's most-capped player. According to World Rugby, "Pelous' spirit and robustness in the heat of battle made him perfect captaincy material", and he would captain ''Les Bleus'' 42 times, with only [[Thierry Dusautoir]] serving as captain on more occasions. In his 18-season club career, 12 of which were with his hometown club [[Stade Toulousain|Toulouse]], he helped Toulouse to two [[European Rugby Champions Cup|European]] and three [[Bouclier de Brennus|French]] titles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://allblacksgame.co.nz/ |title=World Rugby Hall of Fame – Inductee No. 135 – Fabien Pelous |website=World Rugby |access-date=29 November 2017 |archive-date=7 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907131544/https://allblacksgame.co.nz/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Flanker '''[[Thierry Dusautoir]]''' (born 1981) was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023 at the [[World Rugby Awards]] ceremony in Paris. Appearing 80 times for France, 56 as captain, from 2006 to 2015, he played in three World Cups. Two of his greatest personal accolades came in World Cup matches against New Zealand—he was Player of the Match in France's losing effort in the [[2011 Rugby World Cup final|2011 World Cup final]], and set a World Cup record of 38 tackles in France's win in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinals. At club level, he played on teams that won five French titles and one European Cup.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/876909 |title=World Rugby Hall of Fame to recognise five Rugby World Cup greats |publisher=World Rugby |date=2023-10-10 |access-date=2023-10-15}}</ref>
===Award winners===
====World Rugby Awards====
The following France players have been recognised at the [[World Rugby Awards]] since 2001:<ref name="World Rugby Award winners">{{cite news | url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/awards/past-winners | title=Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby | website=www.world.rugby | access-date=16 March 2024 | language=en}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year|World Rugby Player of the Year]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=160| Nominees
!width=160| Winners
|-
|align=center| 2002
| [[Fabien Galthié]]
|align=center| '''[[Fabien Galthié]]'''
|-
|align=center| 2003
| [[Imanol Harinordoquy]]
|align=center rowspan=4| —
|-
|align=center| 2004
| [[Serge Betsen]]
|-
|align=center| 2007
| [[Yannick Jauzion]]
|-
|align=center| 2010
| [[Imanol Harinordoquy]] (2)
|-
|align=center| 2011
| [[Thierry Dusautoir]]
|align=center| '''[[Thierry Dusautoir]]'''
|-
|align=center| 2012
| [[Frédéric Michalak]]
|align=center| —
|-
|align=center| 2021
| [[Antoine Dupont]]
|align=center| '''[[Antoine Dupont]]'''
|-
|align=center| 2022
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (2)
|align=center rowspan=2| —
|-
|align=center| 2023
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (3)
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[World Rugby Men's 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year|World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=160| Nominees
!width=160| Winners
|-
|align=center| 2017
| [[Damian Penaud]]
|align=center| —
|-
|align=center| 2019
| [[Romain Ntamack]]
|align=center| '''[[Romain Ntamack]]'''
|-
|align=center| 2023
| [[Louis Bielle-Biarrey]]
|align=center| —
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[World Rugby Men's 15s Dream Team of the Year|World Rugby Dream Team of the Year]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=40| {{abbr|No.|Numbers}}
!width=160| Players
|-
|align=center| 2021
|align=center| 9.
| [[Antoine Dupont]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| 2022
|align=center| 8.
| [[Grégory Alldritt]]
|-
|align=center| 9.
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (2)
|-
|align=center rowspan=5| 2023
|align=center| 1.
| [[Cyril Baille]]
|-
|align=center| 7.
| [[Charles Ollivon]]
|-
|align=center| 9.
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (3)
|-
|align=center| 14.
| [[Damian Penaud]]
|-
|align=center| 15.
| [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]]
|-
|}
{{col-end}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year|World Rugby Try of the Year]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=90| Date
!width=170| Scorer
!width=160| Match
!width=150| Tournament
!width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
|align=center| 2021
|align=center| 26 March
|align=center| '''[[Damian Penaud]]'''
|align=center| vs. [[Scotland national rugby union team|Scotland]]
|align=center| [[2021 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]]
|align=center| <ref>{{Cite web | date=6 December 2021 | title=France's Penaud wins International Rugby Players Men's Try of the Year award | url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2021/12/06/frances-penaud-wins-international-rugby-players-mens-try-of-the-year-award/ | access-date=22 December 2021 | website=Six Nations Rugby | language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
|}
====Six Nations Player of the Championship====
The following France players have been shortlisted for the [[List of Six Nations Championship Player of the Championship winners|Six Nations Player of the Championship]] since 2004:<ref>{{cite web |date=19 January 2019 |title=Player of the Championship |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/player-of-the-championship/ |work=Six Nations Rugby |access-date=2 March 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119122648/https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/player-of-the-championship/ |archive-date=19 January 2019 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[List of Six Nations Championship Player of the Championship winners#Winners|Six Nations Player of the Year (2004–09)]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=160| Nominees
!width=160| Winners
|-
|align=center rowspan=4| [[2004 Six Nations Championship|2004]]
| [[Serge Betsen]]
|align=center rowspan=16| —
|-
| [[Yannick Jauzion]]
|-
| [[Sylvain Marconnet]]
|-
| [[Frédéric Michalak]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=4| [[2005 Six Nations Championship|2005]]
| [[Serge Betsen]] (2)
|-
| [[Yannick Nyanga]]
|-
| [[Fabien Pelous]]
|-
| [[Dimitri Yachvili]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=4| [[2006 Six Nations Championship|2006]]
| [[Thomas Castaignède]]
|-
| [[Christophe Dominici]]
|-
| [[Florian Fritz]]
|-
| [[Raphaël Ibañez]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2007 Six Nations Championship|2007]]
| [[Christophe Dominici]] (2)
|-
| [[Raphaël Ibañez]] (2)
|-
| [[Yannick Jauzion]] (2)
|-
|align=center| [[2008 Six Nations Championship|2008]]
| [[Vincent Clerc]]
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[List of Six Nations Championship Player of the Championship winners#Winners|Six Nations Player of the Year (2010–16)]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=160| Nominees
!width=160| Winners
|-
|align=center rowspan=4| [[2010 Six Nations Championship|2010]]
| [[Mathieu Bastareaud]]
|align=center rowspan=16| —
|-
| [[Thierry Dusautoir]]
|-
| [[Imanol Harinordoquy]]
|-
| [[Morgan Parra]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| [[2011 Six Nations Championship|2011]]
| [[Thierry Dusautoir]] (2)
|-
| [[Maxime Médard]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2012 Six Nations Championship|2012]]
| [[Imanol Harinordoquy]] (2)
|-
| [[Yoann Maestri]]
|-
| [[Julien Malzieu]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2013 Six Nations Championship|2013]]
| [[Mathieu Bastareaud]] (2)
|-
| [[Nicolas Mas]]
|-
| [[Louis Picamoles]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| [[2014 Six Nations Championship|2014]]
| [[Brice Dulin]]
|-
| [[Yoann Huget]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| [[2016 Six Nations Championship|2016]]
| [[Guilhem Guirado]]
|-
| [[Virimi Vakatawa]]
|-
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[List of Six Nations Championship Player of the Championship winners#Winners|Six Nations Player of the Year (2017–24)]]
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=160| Nominees
!width=160| Winners
|-
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| [[2017 Six Nations Championship|2017]]
| [[Camille Lopez]]
|align=center rowspan=3| —
|-
| [[Louis Picamoles]] (2)
|-
|align=center| [[2018 Six Nations Championship|2018]]
| [[Guilhem Guirado]] (2)
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2020 Six Nations Championship|2020]]
| [[Grégory Alldritt]]
|align=center rowspan=3| '''[[Antoine Dupont]]'''
|-
| [[Antoine Dupont]]
|-
| [[Romain Ntamack]]
|-
|align=center| [[2021 Six Nations Championship|2021]]
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (2)
|align=center| —
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]]
| [[Grégory Alldritt]] (2)
|align=center rowspan=2| '''[[Antoine Dupont]]''' (2)
|-
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (3)
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]]
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (4)
|align=center rowspan=3| '''[[Antoine Dupont]]''' (3)
|-
| [[Damian Penaud]]
|-
| [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]]
|-
|}
{{col-end}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ [[List of Six Nations Championship Player of the Championship winners#Six Nations Team of the Championship|Six Nations Team of the Championship]]
|-
!width=40 rowspan=3| Year
!colspan=4| 1st XV
!colspan=4| 2nd XV
|-
!colspan=2| Forwards
!colspan=2| Backs
!colspan=2| Forwards
!colspan=2| Backs
|-
!width=40| {{abbr|No.|Numbers}}
!width=160| Players
!width=40| {{abbr|No.|Numbers}}
!width=160| Players
!width=40| {{abbr|No.|Numbers}}
!width=160| Players
!width=40| {{abbr|No.|Numbers}}
!width=160| Players
|-
|align=center| [[2021 Six Nations Championship|2021]]
|align=center colspan=2| —
|align=center| 9.
| [[Antoine Dupont]]
|align=center colspan=4 rowspan=7| ''Not awarded''
|-
|align=center rowspan=6| [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]]
|align=center rowspan=2| 1.
|rowspan=2| [[Cyril Baille]]
|align=center| 9.
| [[Antoine Dupont]] (2)
|-
|align=center| 10.
| [[Romain Ntamack]]
|-
|align=center| 2.
| [[Julien Marchand]]
|align=center| 11.
| [[Gabin Villière]]
|-
|align=center| 5.
| [[Paul Willemse]]
|align=center| 12.
| [[Jonathan Danty]]
|-
|align=center| 6.
| [[François Cros]]
|align=center| 13.
| [[Gaël Fickou]]
|-
|align=center| 8.
| [[Grégory Alldritt]]
|align=center| 14.
| [[Damian Penaud]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=4| [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]]
|align=center rowspan=4| 4.
|rowspan=4| [[Thibaud Flament]]
|align=center rowspan=2| 9.
|rowspan=2| [[Antoine Dupont]] (3)
|align=center| 2.
| [[Julien Marchand]]
|align=center rowspan=4| 15.
|rowspan=4| [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]]
|-
|align=center| 5.
| [[Paul Willemse]]
|-
|align=center rowspan=2| 14.
|rowspan=2| [[Damian Penaud]] (2)
|align=center| 7.
| [[Charles Ollivon]]
|-
|align=center| 8.
| [[Grégory Alldritt]]
|-
|-
|align=center| [[2024 Six Nations Championship|2024]]
|align=center| 3.
| [[Uini Atonio]]
|align=center| 15.
| [[Thomas Ramos (rugby union)|Thomas Ramos]]
|align=center colspan=4| ''Not awarded''
|-
|}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Six Nations Try of the Championship
|-
!width=40| Year
!width=170| Nominee
!width=160| Match
!width=170| Winner
!width=30| {{abbr|Ref|Reference}}
|-
|align=center rowspan=3| [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]]
| [[Damian Penaud]] ''(2nd try)''
| vs. [[England national rugby union team|England]]
|align=center rowspan=4| —
|align=center rowspan=3| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/vote-for-the-guinness-six-nations-try-of-the-championship | title=Vote for the Guinness Six Nations Try of the Championship | website=www.sixnationsrugby.com | access-date=16 April 2024 | language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Damian Penaud]]
| vs. [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]]
|-
| [[Damian Penaud]] ''(1st try)''
| vs. [[Wales national rugby union team|Wales]]
|-
|align=center| [[2024 Six Nations Championship|2024]]
| [[Nolann Le Garrec]]
| vs. [[England national rugby union team|England]]
|align=center| <ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/m6n/news/vote-for-your-try-of-the-championship | title=Vote for your Try of the Championship | website=www.sixnationsrugby.com | access-date=16 April 2024 | language=en}}</ref>
|-
|}
{{col-end}}
==Individual all-time records==
{{Main|List of France national rugby union team records}}
The record for points scored for France is 436, held by [[Frédéric Michalak]], who surpassed previous record holder [[Christophe Lamaison]] on 22 August 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites/Michalak-depasse-lamaison/584080 |title=Frédéric Michalak dépasse Titou Lamaison comme meilleur réalisateur du XV de France |newspaper=[[L'Équipe]] |language=fr |date=22 August 2015 |access-date=22 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Records"/> Lamaison continues to hold the record for conversions with 59.<ref name="Records"/> The record for penalties scored is 89 by [[Thierry Lacroix]], and the drop goal record of 15 is held by [[Jean-Patrick Lescarboura]].<ref name="Records"/> The record for French appearances is held by [[Fabien Pelous]] with 118.<ref name="Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/equipes_de_france/xv_de_france/records |title=Records |publisher=ffr.fr |access-date=19 June 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708035741/http://www.ffr.fr/index.php/ffr/equipes_de_france/xv_de_france/records |archive-date=8 July 2013 }}</ref> The record for tries scored for France is with 38 held by [[Serge Blanco]].<ref name="Records"/>
==Honours==
===Worldwide===
* '''[[Rugby World Cup]]'''
**{{Silver2}} Runners-up (3): [[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]], [[1999 Rugby World Cup|1999]], [[2011 Rugby World Cup|2011]]
**{{Bronze3}} Third place (1): [[1995 Rugby World Cup|1995]]
* '''[[:fr:Coupe latine de rugby à XV|Latin Cup]]'''
**{{Gold1}} '''Champions (2):''' 1995, 1997
* '''[[Autumn Nations Cup]]'''
**{{Silver2}} Runners-up (1): [[Autumn Nations Cup|2020]]
===Continental===
* '''[[Six Nations Championship|Five Nations]]/[[Six Nations Championship]]'''
**{{Gold1}} '''Champions (18):''' [[1959 Five Nations Championship|1959]], [[1961 Five Nations Championship|1961]], [[1962 Five Nations Championship|1962]], [[1967 Five Nations Championship|1967]], [[1968 Five Nations Championship|1968]], [[1977 Five Nations Championship|1977]], [[1981 Five Nations Championship|1981]], [[1987 Five Nations Championship|1987]], [[1989 Five Nations Championship|1989]], [[1993 Five Nations Championship|1993]], [[1997 Five Nations Championship|1997]], [[1998 Five Nations Championship|1998]], [[2002 Six Nations Championship|2002]], [[2004 Six Nations Championship|2004]], [[2006 Six Nations Championship|2006]], [[2007 Six Nations Championship|2007]], [[2010 Six Nations Championship|2010]], [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]]
**{{Gold1}} Champions (shared; 8): [[1954 Five Nations Championship|1954]], [[1955 Five Nations Championship|1955]], [[1960 Five Nations Championship|1960]], [[1970 Five Nations Championship|1970]], [[1973 Five Nations Championship|1973]], [[1983 Five Nations Championship|1983]], [[1986 Five Nations Championship|1986]], [[1988 Five Nations Championship|1988]]
**{{Silver2}} Runners-up (15): [[1951 Five Nations Championship|1951]], [[1971 Five Nations Championship|1971]], [[1976 Five Nations Championship|1976]], [[1978 Five Nations Championship|1978]], [[1979 Five Nations Championship|1979]], [[1984 Five Nations Championship|1984]], [[1985 Five Nations Championship|1985]], [[1991 Five Nations Championship|1991]], [[2000 Six Nations Championship|2000]], [[2005 Six Nations Championship|2005]], [[2011 Six Nations Championship|2011]], [[2020 Six Nations Championship|2020]], [[2021 Six Nations Championship|2021]], [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]], [[2024 Six Nations Championship|2024]]
**{{Silver2}} Runners-up (shared; 12): [[1921 Five Nations Championship|1921]], [[1930 Five Nations Championship|1930]], [[1931 Five Nations Championship|1931]], [[1948 Five Nations Championship|1948]], [[1949 Five Nations Championship|1949]], [[1956 Five Nations Championship|1956]], [[1963 Five Nations Championship|1963]], [[1965 Five Nations Championship|1965]], [[1966 Five Nations Championship|1966]], [[1974 Five Nations Championship|1974]], [[1975 Five Nations Championship|1975]], [[1992 Five Nations Championship|1992]]
**{{Bronze3}} Third place (9): [[1958 Five Nations Championship|1958]], [[1990 Five Nations Championship|1990]], [[1994 Five Nations Championship|1994]], [[1995 Five Nations Championship|1995]], [[1996 Five Nations Championship|1996]], [[2003 Six Nations Championship|2003]], [[2008 Six Nations Championship|2008]], [[2009 Six Nations Championship|2009]], [[2017 Six Nations Championship|2017]]
**{{Bronze3}} Third place (shared; 5): [[1923 Five Nations Championship|1923]], [[1928 Five Nations Championship|1928]], [[1947 Five Nations Championship|1947]], [[1950 Five Nations Championship|1950]], [[1964 Five Nations Championship|1964]]
====Slams====
* '''[[Grand Slam (rugby union)#Six Nations Championship|Grand Slam]]:''' [[1968 Five Nations Championship|1968]], [[1977 Five Nations Championship|1977]], [[1981 Five Nations Championship|1981]], [[1987 Five Nations Championship|1987]], [[1997 Five Nations Championship|1997]], [[1998 Five Nations Championship|1998]], [[2002 Six Nations Championship|2002]], [[2004 Six Nations Championship|2004]], [[2010 Six Nations Championship|2010]], [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]]
* '''Small Slam:''' [[1960 Five Nations Championship|1960]], [[1961 Five Nations Championship|1961]]
===
* '''[[Auld Alliance Trophy]] (4):''' [[2019 Six Nations Championship|2019]], [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]], [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]], [[2024 Six Nations Championship|2024]]
* '''[[Dave Gallaher Trophy]] (2):''' [[2009 June rugby union tests|2009]], [[2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals|2021]]
* '''[[Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy]] (15):''' [[2007 Six Nations Championship|2007]], [[2008 Six Nations Championship|2008]], [[2009 Six Nations Championship|2009]], [[2010 Six Nations Championship|2010]], [[2012 Six Nations Championship|2012]], [[2014 Six Nations Championship|2014]], [[2015 Six Nations Championship|2015]], [[2016 Six Nations Championship|2016]], [[2017 Six Nations Championship|2017]], [[2018 Six Nations Championship|2018]], [[2019 Six Nations Championship|2019]], [[2020 Six Nations Championship|2020]], [[2021 Six Nations Championship|2021]], [[2022 Six Nations Championship|2022]], [[2023 Six Nations Championship|2023]]
* '''[[Trophée des Bicentenaires]] (7):''' [[2001 Australia rugby union tour of Europe|2001]], [[2004 Australia rugby union tour of Europe|2004]], [[2005 Australia rugby union tour of Europe|2005]], [[2012 end-of-year rugby union internationals|2012]], [[2014 end-of-year rugby union internationals|2014]], [[2022 end-of-year rugby union internationals|2022]], [[2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches|2023]]
==See also==
* [[Dave Gallaher Trophy]] – trophy for tests between France and New Zealand
* [[France national rugby sevens team]] – national [[rugby sevens]] team
* [[Le Crunch]] – traditional name for tests between France and England
* [[
==References==
{{reflist
==Bibliography==
*
==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website}} {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140502033605/http://www.irb.com/
{{France national rugby union team}}
{{Navboxes
|titlestyle = background:#0055A4; color:white; {{box-shadow border|a|#EF4135|2px}}
|list =
{{Rugby union in France}}
{{FranceNationalTeams}}
{{National rugby teams}}
{{History of Tier 1 nations}}
{{Six Nations Championship}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:France National Rugby Union Team}}
[[Category:National sports teams of France|Rugby union]]
[[Category:France national rugby union team| ]]
[[Category:Rugby union in France]]
[[Category:European national rugby union teams]]
|
Latest revision as of 22:25, 25 May 2024
Nickname(s) | Le XV de France (The XV of France) Les Bleus (The Blues) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Emblem | Gallic rooster | ||
Union | Fédération Française de Rugby | ||
Head coach | Fabien Galthié | ||
Captain | Grégory Alldritt | ||
Most caps | Fabien Pelous (118) | ||
Top scorer | Frédéric Michalak (436) | ||
Top try scorer | Serge Blanco (38) | ||
Home stadium | Stade de France | ||
| |||
World Rugby ranking | |||
Current | 4 (as of 16 October 2023) | ||
Highest | 1 (2022) | ||
Lowest | 10 (2018) | ||
First international | |||
France 8–38 New Zealand (Paris, France; 1 January 1906) | |||
Biggest win | |||
France 96–0 Namibia (Marseille, France; 21 September 2023) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
New Zealand 61–10 France (Wellington, New Zealand; 9 June 2007) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 9 (First in 1987) | ||
Best result | Runners-up (1987, 1999, 2011) | ||
Medal record | |||
Website | ffr.fr/xv-de-france |
The France national rugby union team (French: Équipe de France de rugby à XV) represents the French Rugby Federation (FFR; Fédération française de rugby) in men's international rugby union matches. Colloquially known as Le XV de France (French for "The XV of France"), the team traditionally wears blue shirts with a Gallic rooster embroidered on the chest, white shorts and red socks in reference to the French national flag. Les Bleus (French for "The Blues") mostly play home matches at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship along with England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. France have won the tournament on 26 occasions (as well as sharing 8 victories), winning the Grand Slam 10 times.
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British before a first France national team was formed in 1893 (as a selection of the best Parisian-club players under the USFSA governance) to face a club in England. A few years later, on New Year's Day 1906, the national side played its first test match against New Zealand in Paris. France then played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them in 1910 to form the Five Nations Championship. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s. The national team came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, winning their first Five Nations title outright in 1959. They won their first Grand Slam in 1968. Their last win in the tournament dates back to 2022 under head coach and former team-captain Fabien Galthié, who is currently in charge of the selection.
France has competed in every Rugby World Cup since it began in 1987, and qualified for the knock-out stage each time. They have reached the final three times, losing to New Zealand in 1987 and 2011, and to Australia in 1999. France hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup, where, as in 2003, they were beaten in the semi-finals by England. In 2023 they hosted for a second time, but they succumbed to South Africa, the eventual winners, in the quarter-finals by a margin of one point.
History[edit]
Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by English merchants and students.[1] On 26 February 1890,[2] a French rugby team recruited from the Janson Desailly Lyceum defeated an international team at the Bois de Boulogne.[3]
Although France were represented at the 1900 Summer Olympics,[4] their first official test match did not take place until New Year's Day 1906, against the New Zealand All Blacks in Paris.[5] France then played intermittently against the Home Nations until they joined them to form the Five Nations tournament in 1910. In 1913 France faced South Africa's Springboks for the first time; losing 38–5.[6] France also competed at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics, and on both occasions lost to the United States in the gold medal match.[4]
France were ejected from the Five Nations in 1932 after being accused of professionalism in the French leagues at a time when rugby union was strictly amateur.[7][8] Forced to play against weaker opposition, France went on a winning streak; winning ten games in a row during the years from 1931 to 1936.[9] France was invited to rejoin the Five Nations in 1939 but did not compete until 1947 as international rugby was suspended during World War II.[8]
French rugby came of age during the 1950s and 1960s: they won their first Five Nations championship and completed a successful tour of South Africa.[8] Their first championship was won in 1954 when they shared the title with England and Wales.[8][10] France won their first outright Five Nations championship in 1959; they won with two wins, a draw (against England) and a defeat (against Ireland).[10]
France first toured South Africa winning the test series in 1958. The Springboks also visited Paris in 1961, the test was not completed due to onfield fighting amongst the players. France also toured New Zealand and Australia in 1961 losing both tests against the All Blacks but defeating Australia's Wallabies. They won their first Five Nations Grand Slam in 1968 by beating all four other competing teams, and won numerous titles in the following years.[10]
In 1977, France won their second Grand Slam, fielding an unchanged side throughout the tournament and conceding no tries.[10][11] They also defeated the All Blacks in Toulouse that year, but lost the return match in Paris.[12] On Bastille Day, 1979 they defeated the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time, at Eden Park in Auckland.[13]
In 1981 the French clinched their third Grand Slam; at Twickenham against England.[10] They again completed a Grand Slam in 1987 on the eve of the first Rugby World Cup hosted by Australia and New Zealand. In that tournament they came from behind numerous times to defeat the Wallabies in their semi-final, and faced the All Blacks in final at Eden Park, Auckland; France lost 29–9. They shared the Five Nations with Wales the next year, and also won it in 1989.[10]
France hosted some of the tests during the 1991 World Cup, but were knocked out by England at the Parc des Princes (Paris) in the quarter-finals. France won the Five Nations championship in 1993. In 1994 France won a test series 2–0 in New Zealand.[14] They were knocked out of the 1995 World Cup semi-finals by eventual champions the Springboks, but did win their third place play-off match against England. In November 1995, France played the All Blacks in two tests, winning the first 22–15 at Toulouse and losing the second 37–12 at Paris. France won back-to-back Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998. At the 1999 World Cup they defeated tournament favourites the All Blacks in the semi-finals, but lost to the Wallabies in the final.[10]
The Five Nations Championship was expanded in 2000 to include Italy. In the now Six Nations Championship France won a Grand Slam in 2002.[10] At the 2003 World Cup in Australia they qualified for the semi-finals where they were defeated by eventual champions England. In 2004, they won a second Six Nations Grand Slam, which was followed by a Championship win in 2006 and a successful defence in 2007.[10]
During the opener of the World Cup 2007, Argentina defeated France 17–12. However, after defeating Ireland 25–3, France qualified for the quarter-finals. After defeating the New Zealand All Blacks 20–18, they lost to England 14–9 in the semi-final. France then lost for a second time to Argentina 34–10 in the third-place match. In 2010, France won its ninth Grand Slam.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup, France defeated Wales 9–8 in the semi-final at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on 15 October 2011 and in the following week they lost 8–7 to the All Blacks in the final to make it three final defeats.[15]
During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, France lost 62–13 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
In the 2019 Rugby World Cup, France lost to Wales 20–19 in the quarter-finals.
The French rugby team recorded a perfect season in 2022 having won all 13 matches.[16]
During France's home 2023 Rugby World Cup, they lost to South Africa, the eventual victors, 28-29 in the quarter-finals.
Team image[edit]
Colours and kits[edit]
Until 1912, the strip (uniform) of the French team was white with two rings (the symbol of USFSA, the body that ruled the sport in France by then). After the first game won by France against Scotland in 1911, France's captain Marcel Communeau asked that the team adopt the coq gaulois (Gallic rooster), historical emblem of France, as its symbol.[17] The Gallic rooster was probably chosen partly because it is considered as a proud and combative animal that can be sometimes aggressive, although it had been used previously as a symbol by French teams – a former association football player, Jean Rigal, wore a uniform with this emblem as early as May 1910.[18] The badge was initially white and red, but was altered to a multicoloured, embroidered image after 1945, and has been golden since 1970.[19]
The symbol used by the French rugby team was a great success, and was later adopted by the French delegation at the Olympic Games of 1920 where the rooster was perched on five Olympic rings.[20] The rooster has since become a well-known symbol of French teams. French players are sometimes called les coqs and some French supporters have been known to release roosters on the playing field before games.[21]
The French team traditionally played in blue shirts, white shorts, and red socks, the colors of the national flag, and as such were nicknamed Les Tricolores (French for "The Tricoloured" or "The Red, White and Blues"). Due to the mostly blue strip the French team currently wears, the team is now often referred to as Les Bleus (French for "The Blues"), like many other French sporting teams. When this strip clashes with that of their opponents, such as in games against Scotland and Italy, French players wear white. New strips were developed for the 2007 World Cup, one of which is a darker blue. In June 2011 they relaunched another kit which they wear blue shirt with a black and navy gradation, blue shorts and blue socks for their home kit and they wear white shirt, white shorts and white socks for their away kit.
In 2011, French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced that Adidas would be their new partner for a period of six years, with them taking over production of the France national rugby shirt from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2018.[22]
Led by newly elected president Bernard Laporte, the federation intended on selling the jersey to a sponsor. The FFR announced on 24 January 2017 that they had started the commercialisation of the jersey. In February, it was decided that the jersey would first be used to support France's bid for the 2023 World Cup by showing #France2023 on the front of the kit.[23] In March 2017, the Groupe Altrad showed its support for France's bid for the World Cup and the company's logo accompanied #France2023 on the jersey. The group became the first private company in history that appeared on the France national team kits.[24] As of 2017 and France's successful bid to host the World Cup, Groupe Altrad signed a contract with the FFR, appearing solely on the jerseys.
In 2017, FFR announced that Le Coq Sportif would once again be their supplier for a period of six years, with them taking over production of the France national rugby shirt from July 2018 to June 2024.[25] On 28 June 2019, the Federation unveiled a new France Rugby logo which replaced the red and golden rooster and the previous governing body abstract logo. The red and stylised rooster was designed in order to be used as France teams' crest and FFR badge.[26] A few months before the 2023 World Cup kick-off, incoming FFR president Florian Grill announced Adidas' return as France's kit manufacturer from June 2024.[27]
Kit suppliers[edit]
Period | Kit manufacturer | Main shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
1970–1975 | Le Coq Sportif | — |
1976–1979 | Adidas | — |
1980–1986 | Le Coq Sportif | — |
1985–1986 | Nike | — |
1986–1998 | Adidas | — |
1998–2012 | Nike | — |
2012–2017 | Adidas | — |
2017–2018 | Adidas | Groupe Altrad |
2018–2024 | Le Coq Sportif | |
2024–2028 | Adidas | TBA |
Kits timeline[edit]
First matches
|
Circa 1915
|
1960
|
1970
|
1985–86
|
1999–2001
(1999 WC) |
2003–05
(2003 WC) |
2007–09
(2007 WC) |
2010–11
(2010 G. Slam) |
2011–12
(2011 WC) |
2015–16
(2015 WC) |
2019–20
(2019 WC) |
2021–22
(2022 G. Slam) |
Media coverage[edit]
France's autumn internationals and Six Nations Championship matches are televised by public free-to-air national broadcaster France Télévisions (especially by the main channel France 2) since 1975. French viewers can therefore follow and see a total of eight France national games without any charges. The summer test matches meanwhile are fairly often televised by pay television channel Canal+ while the World Cup matches are broadcast by private free-to-air TF1.[28][29] However, TF1 Group, France Télévisions and Groupe M6 announced details of a joint 2023 World Cup coverage, where each game of the tournament will be quite equally aired across three broadcasters. TF1 will broadcast 20 matches including most of the knockout phase and France matches, France 2 will air 10 matches including the France fixture against Namibia while M6 will televise a total of 18 matches.[30]
France matches are also broadcast with full commentary on many public and private radio stations such as RMC, Sud Radio or local generalist France Bleu branchs. Furthermore, most of French daily and weekly newspapers follow the France national team just like sport specialist L'Équipe and especially rugby-focused Midi Olympique that is published every Monday and Friday.[31]
As of June 2023, the French Rugby Federation social media (rebranded as France Rugby) had more than 800,000 followers on Facebook and Twitter, and over 700,000 on Instagram. France Rugby also posts videos of trainings and game weeks on its YouTube channel, where viewers can witness the players and staff routine in web series.[32]
Home grounds[edit]
Historically, France played internationals at venues such as the Parc des Princes and the Stade Olympique de Colombes, both in Paris.[33] The Stade Olympique de Colombes was the main venue for the 1924 Summer Olympics, where rugby was a sport.[4]
Ever since moving out of Parc des Princes at the end of 1997, France's main home venue has been the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, where their home Six Nations matches are played. It has a capacity of 80,000.[34] Since 2005, France has also played home internationals at the following venues around the country: Stade Chaban-Delmas, Grand Stade Lille Métropole (now known as Stade Pierre-Mauroy), Stade Gerland, Stade Vélodrome, Stade de la Mosson, Stade de la Beaujoire, Stade Bonal, Stadium Municipal (Toulouse) and U Arena.[35]
In June 2012, the FFR announced that plans were under way for a new rugby-dedicated stadium to be constructed in Évry, 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Paris. The stadium was projected to cost €600M and have a seating capacity of 82,000. It was originally scheduled for completion by 2017,[36] but later delayed to 2021 or 2022.[37] In December 2016, FFR officially abandoned the stadium project.[38]
World Cup venues[edit]
During the 1991 World Cup, Pool D (which included France) matches were played throughout France including Béziers, Bayonne, Grenoble, Toulouse, Brive and Agen. Parc des Princes and Stadium Lille Métropole also hosted a quarter-final each.[39] Pool C fixtures at the 1999 World Cup were played throughout France in Béziers, Bordeaux and Toulouse. A second round match was held at Stade Félix Bollaert, and one quarter final was held at the Stade de France, both 2007 venues.
For the 2007 World Cup, France was the primary host, and there were ten venues used for matches throughout the country (Cardiff in Wales and Edinburgh in Scotland also hosted some games).[40] The French cities that hosted matches were Bordeaux (Stade Chaban-Delmas), Lens (Stade Félix Bollaert), Lyon (Stade Gerland), Marseille (Stade Vélodrome), Montpellier (Stade de la Mosson), Nantes (Stade de la Beaujoire), Paris (Stade de France, Saint-Denis and Parc des Princes), Saint-Étienne (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard), and Toulouse (Stadium de Toulouse). The final between England and South Africa was played at Stade de France.[40]
France was again chosen to host in 2023. After a first choice of twelve venues, nine cities and stadiums were eventually selected for the tournament including five that were already used for the 2007 edition: biggest France stadium Stade de France (Saint-Denis – Paris), Stade Vélodrome (Marseille), OL Stadium (Décines-Charpieu – Lyon), Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve-d'Ascq – Lille), Stade de Bordeaux, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (Saint-Étienne) as well as Stade de Nice, Stade de la Beaujoire (Nantes) and Stadium de Toulouse. France will play matches at Stade de France, Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Stade Vélodrome and OL Stadium. Their opening match against New Zealand will be held at Stade France like both semi-finals and finals.[41]
Competitive record[edit]
Six Nations[edit]
France competes annually in the Six Nations Championship, which is played against five other European nations: England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. France first contested the tournament in 1910 when the Home Nations became the Five Nations.[42] France were expelled from the tournament due to rumours of professionalism in the then-amateur sport in 1932, but rejoined in 1947. They first won the competition in 1954, sharing the championship with both England and Wales. France shared with Wales again the following season, and won it outright for the first time in 1959.[42] France's longest wait for a championship spanned 37 tournaments (1910–1954). The Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy is also contested between France and Italy during the Six Nations. Over the whole history of the Tournament, they are the third most-winning nation, eleven wins behind England. However, it should be taken into account that France have been present in 34 fewer tournaments than the Home Nations. France has won almost exactly the same proportion of Six Nations Tournaments in which it has competed as England, and is the most successful nation in the post-World War II era (1945–present).
England |
France |
Ireland |
Italy |
Scotland |
Wales | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tournaments | 128 | 95 | 130 | 25 | 130 | 130 |
Outright wins (shared wins) | ||||||
Home Nations | 5 (4) | — | 4 (3) | — | 9 (2) | 7 (3) |
Five Nations | 17 (6) | 12 (8) | 6 (5) | — | 5 (6) | 15 (8) |
Six Nations | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Overall | 29 (10) | 18 (8) | 16 (8) | 0 (0) | 14 (8) | 28 (11) |
Grand Slams | ||||||
Home Nations | — | — | — | — | — | 2[43] |
Five Nations | 11 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 6 |
Six Nations | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Overall | 13 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
Triple Crowns | ||||||
Home Nations | 5 | — | 2 | — | 7 | 6 |
Five Nations | 16 | — | 4 | — | 3 | 11 |
Six Nations | 5 | — | 7 | — | 0 | 5 |
Overall | 26 | — | 13 | — | 10 | 22 |
Wooden Spoons | ||||||
Home Nations | 7 | — | 10 | — | 5 | 6 |
Five Nations | 10 | 12 | 15 | — | 15 | 10 |
Six Nations | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
Overall | 17 | 13 | 25 | 18 | 24 | 18 |
Rugby World Cup[edit]
The French have competed at every World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. Although they have yet to win a World Cup, they have participated in the play-off stage of every tournament, and have reached the final three times.
In 1987 France took on pre-tournament favourites Australia at Concord Oval for a place in the final. In one of the greatest World Cup matches,[44] the Australians appeared to be in control, leading 9–0, 15–12 and 24–21 at various stages of the match, only for the French to keep coming back.[44] With the scores locked at 24–24 and the prospect of extra time looming, the French scored one of the most memorable tries in rugby history.[44] Starting an attack from inside their own half, the French passed the ball through 11 pairs of hands before fullback Serge Blanco beat Wallabies hooker Tom Lawton to score a try in the corner.[44] France won 30–24, and would face co-hosts New Zealand in the final at Eden Park. The French had not fully recovered from their magnificent effort in the semi-final,[45] and New Zealand won the anticlimactic decider 29–9.[46]
In 1991 France met eternal arch-rivals England in the quarterfinal at Parc des Princes. Earlier in the year at Twickenham the two sides had played off for the Five Nations Grand Slam. The French scored three magnificent tries but were denied by the fearsome English forward pack.[47] In a very tense and brutally physical match, the scores were tied at 10-all when the French were awarded a scrum five metres out from the tryline. French number eight Marc Cecillon looked set to score the try that would have won the game for the French. Suddenly he was hit and driven back in a tackle from opponent Mick Skinner, a tackle which changed the momentum of the match.[47] England went on to win 19–10 and eventually reached the Final. At the end of the match, France coach Daniel Dubroca angrily assaulted New Zealand referee Dave Bishop in the players tunnel. He resigned soon afterwards.[47]
In 1995 France finished third overall, defeating England 19–9 in the third-place play-off after their defeat to South Africa in the semi-finals. After coming from behind to defeat the All Blacks in their 1999 semi-final,[48] France lost to Australia 35–12 in the final. In 2003 they finished fourth, losing the third/fourth place game to the All Blacks.[49] At the World Cup 2007, after defeating New Zealand 20–18 in the quarter-final, France lost out to England in the semi-finals losing 14–9 after finishing the break 5–6 ahead. France lost to Argentina in the bronze final to finish the tournament fourth.[citation needed]
France's 2011 campaign was marked by turmoil within the camp; reports before the tournament indicated as many as 25 of the 30-member squad had turned against head coach Marc Lièvremont.[50] In pool play, France had unimpressive wins over Japan and Canada, an expected loss to New Zealand, and a shock loss to Tonga. During this stage, Lièvremont heavily criticized the team in the media, further angering many of his players, with veteran back-rower Imanol Harinordoquy publicly critical of Lièvremont.[51] Despite the losses, they qualified for the knockout stage. At this time, the players effectively rebelled against Lièvremont; after the tournament, Harinordoquy would tell the French rugby publication Midi Olympique, "We had to free ourselves from his supervision."[50] The team responded by defeating England 19–12 in the quarter-final and controversially beating Wales 9–8 in the semi-final after Welsh captain Sam Warburton was sent off. The French proved admirable opponents in the final, however, losing out to New Zealand 8–7 to finish second for the third time in a Rugby World Cup.[citation needed]
France are the third-highest World Cup points scorers of all time, with 1585 points. They are also the third-highest try scorers, and the second-highest penalty scorers.[52] France's Thierry Lacroix was the top points scorer at the 1995 tournament with 112 points,[53] and Jean-Baptiste Lafond was the joint top try scorer in 1991 with six tries (equal with David Campese).[54] Vincent Clerc is top try scorer in 2011 with six tries as Jean-Baptiste Lafond 20 years earlier.[citation needed]
Rugby World Cup record | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | Head coach | ||||||||||||
1987 | Runners-up | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 215 | 113 | Squad | Fouroux | ||||||||||||
1991 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 92 | 44 | Squad | Dubroca | ||||||||||||
1995 | Third place | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 184 | 87 | Squad | Berbizier | ||||||||||||
1999 | Runners-up | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 210 | 144 | Squad | Skrela | ||||||||||||
2003 | Fourth place | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 267 | 155 | Squad | Laporte | ||||||||||||
2007 | Fourth place | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 227 | 103 | Squad | |||||||||||||
2011 | Runners-up | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 159 | 124 | Squad | Lièvremont | ||||||||||||
2015 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 133 | 125 | Squad | Saint-André | ||||||||||||
2019 | Quarter-finals | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 98 | 71 | Squad | Brunel | ||||||||||||
2023 | Quarter-finals | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 238 | 61 | Squad | Galthié | ||||||||||||
Total | No title | 57 | 40 | 1 | 16 | 1,823 | 1027 | — | — | ||||||||||||
|
Overall and rankings[edit]
[55] | Top 20 as of 27 May 2024|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank | Change* | Team | Points | ||
1 | South Africa | 94.54 | |||
2 | Ireland | 90.69 | |||
3 | New Zealand | 89.80 | |||
4 | France | 87.92 | |||
5 | England | 85.75 | |||
6 | Scotland | 82.82 | |||
7 | Argentina | 80.68 | |||
8 | Italy | 79.41 | |||
9 | Australia | 77.48 | |||
10 | Wales | 77.26 | |||
11 | Fiji | 76.38 | |||
12 | Japan | 74.27 | |||
13 | Georgia | 74.02 | |||
14 | Samoa | 72.23 | |||
15 | Tonga | 71.57 | |||
16 | Portugal | 70.28 | |||
17 | United States | 67.94 | |||
18 | Uruguay | 67.39 | |||
19 | Spain | 64.37 | |||
20 | Romania | 61.66 | |||
* Change from the previous week | |||||
France's historical rankings | |||||
See or edit source data. | |||||
Source: World Rugby[55] Graph updated to 27 May 2024 |
France were named World Rugby Team of the Year in 2002. When the World Rankings were introduced by World Rugby (then the International Rugby Board) in 2003, France were ranked fifth. During November 2003 France briefly occupied third place before falling to fourth by December that year. After falling to fifth during November 2004, France rose again to fourth by April 2005. During early 2006, France rose again, peaking at second in July that year. France were ranked number two in the world until falling to third in June 2007 after two successive defeats to the All Blacks. They then fell to fifth after losing to Argentina in the opening match of the 2007 World Cup.[56]
For the first time, France became world number one in July 2022.
France have won 451 of their 817 test matches.[57]
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a France national XV at test level up until 17 March 2024.
Opponent | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Win % | For | Aga | Diff |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 53 | 38 | 14 | 1 | 71.69% | 1,285 | 838 | +447 |
Australia | 52 | 21 | 29 | 2 | 40.38% | 975 | 1,144 | −169 |
British & Irish Lions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | 27 | 29 | −2 |
British Army | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% | 24 | 45 | −21 |
British Empire Forces | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | 6 | 27 | −21 |
British Empire Services | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 10 | 0 | +10 |
Canada | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 88.9% | 315 | 119 | +196 |
Czech Republic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 47 | 9 | +38 |
England | 111 | 44 | 60 | 7 | 39.64% | 1,490 | 1,795 | −305 |
Fiji | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 90.91% | 407 | 149 | +258 |
Georgia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 105 | 22 | +83 |
Germany | 15 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 86.7% | 298 | 89 | +209 |
Ireland | 103 | 59 | 37 | 7 | 57.28% | 1,679 | 1,311 | +368 |
Ireland XV | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% | 34 | 29 | +5 |
Italy | 49 | 45 | 3 | 1 | 91.84% | 1,528 | 572 | +956 |
Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 54 | 18 | +36 |
Japan | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 85.71% | 248 | 146 | +102 |
Kiwis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | 9 | 14 | −5 |
Namibia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 230 | 23 | +207 |
New Zealand | 63 | 14 | 48 | 1 | 22.22% | 868 | 1,624 | −756 |
New Zealand Māori | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 12 | −9 |
Pacific Islanders | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 42 | 17 | +25 |
Romania | 50 | 40 | 8 | 2 | 80.0% | 1,315 | 462 | +853 |
Samoa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 156 | 49 | +107 |
Scotland | 103 | 60 | 40 | 3 | 58.25% | 1,602 | 1,356 | +246 |
South Africa | 46 | 12 | 28 | 6 | 26.09% | 720 | 994 | −274 |
Tonga | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 66.7% | 172 | 96 | +76 |
United States | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 87.5% | 214 | 102 | +112 |
Uruguay | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 27 | 12 | +15 |
Wales | 104 | 50 | 51 | 3 | 48.08% | 1,619 | 1,622 | −3 |
Wales XV | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50.00% | 12 | 8 | +4 |
Zimbabwe | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0% | 70 | 12 | +58 |
Total | 817 | 451 | 332 | 34 | 55.2% | 15,591 | 12,745 | +2,846 |
Coaching staff[edit]
Coaching and management history[edit]
Historically the role of France rugby union head coach has varied considerably. Due to the status of rugby union as an amateur sport for most of its history, the job of deciding tactics and running team trainings has often been that of the captain or senior players. Therefore, a comprehensive list of national coaches is impossible. The very first entitled head coach is former legend Jean Prat who won the 1967 Five Nations Championship as a manager before leaving the team before the summer tour of South Africa a few weeks later. Next year, France then won the Grand Slam in the 1968 edition without having a head coach, in self-management. Later that year, Fernand Cazenave took his duties. Two years after, he shared the 1970 Five Nations Championship win with Wales.
Although coached by Jean Desclaux between 1973 and 1980, the French team's main influence during the late 1970 was captain Jacques Fouroux. Fouroux played scrum-half and captained France to their 1977 Five Nations Grand Slam, during which France played a very forward-oriented style of rugby.[58] Although the style of Fouroux's Gang was successful, it was criticised because it contrasted with the traditional open attacking style of French rugby.[58] Fouroux was given the nickname "the little Corporal" – the same as Napoleon Bonaparte.[59] Fouroux was named as Desclaux's successor in 1981 at the age of just 33. He continued to promote a forward-oriented style of play, and France won six Five Nations titles – including two Grand Slams – while he was coach. After nearly ten years in the role he resigned in 1990 after a defeat to Romania.[60]
Fouroux was succeeded by Daniel Dubroca, who coached the team to the 1991 Rugby World Cup.[61] Dubroca's tenure as coach did not last long, however, as he resigned after violently confronting referee Dave Bishop following France's World Cup quarter-final against England.[61][62] Dubroca was replaced by Pierre Berbizier, who coached the team until after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[63] Berbizier's replacement, Jean-Claude Skrela, coached France to Five Nations Grand Slams in 1997 and 1998 before they came last in the tournament in 1999.[64] He officially resigned following France's loss to Australia in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final. Bernard Laporte was appointed as Skrela's successor in November.[65] Laporte guided France through the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups before stepping down to become Secretary of State for Sport. After Philippe Saint-André turned down the offer to replace Laporte, French Rugby Federation president Bernard Lapasset appointed Marc Lièvremont to guide France to the 2011 World Cup.[66] Lièvremont's tenure as coach was marked by inconsistent and puzzling squad selection choices, and player discontent.[67] There were some bright moments, notably wins against New Zealand in Dunedin and South Africa in Toulouse, and the 2010 Six Nations Grand Slam.[67] But there was also a 59–16 loss to Australia in Paris, a 22–21 loss to Italy in the 2011 Six Nations, and a 19–14 loss to Tonga during the 2011 World Cup.[67] In August 2011, before the World Cup, it was announced that Philippe Saint-André would replace Lièvremont and guide France to the 2015 World Cup.[68] This came as no surprise to Lièvremont, as he had announced as early as May 2010 that he would not continue as the coach of France after the World Cup.[68]
France did not impress under Saint-André, finishing no higher than fourth in the Six Nations during his tenure and even claiming the wooden spoon in 2013. Following the 2015 Six Nations, he announced his resignation effective after that year's World Cup and was replaced by Guy Novès.[69][70] France was even less impressive under Novès, with Les Bleus winning fewer than one-third of their matches during his tenure, capped off by a run of seven winless matches. Novès was dismissed in December 2017, becoming the first France head coach ever to be fired before the end of his contract, and was replaced by former Italy head coach Jacques Brunel, who arrived from the same position with Bordeaux Bègles. Novès' assistants were dismissed as well.[71]
In April 2019, then-French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte announced that Fabien Galthié would be appointed as head coach of the team after the 2019 World Cup. A week later, Jacques Brunel also confirmed that Galthié joined the France management crew as an assistant to prepare the team for the 2019 World Cup. After the World Cup, the federation formalizes the new coaching staff structured around Fabien Galthié. Raphaël Ibañez was appointed general manager of the team along with four staff membres: William Servat and Karim Ghezal as forwards coaches; Laurent Labit as backs coach and Englishman Shaun Edwards, responsible for the defense. Thibault Giroud, former Toulon head of physical training where he worked with Galthié, was also appointed as head of high permormance. Video analyst Nicolas Buffa retained his positions and became the analysis unit director.[72]
After the 2023 World Cup, Ghezal, Labit and Giroud left the France coaching staff and were replaced respectively by Stade Français forwards coach Laurent Sempéré, former international centre Patrick Arlettaz and Nicolas Jeanjean who became head of high performance.[73]
Current staff[edit]
Position | Name |
---|---|
General manager | Raphaël Ibañez |
Head coach | Fabien Galthié |
Forwards and set piece coaches | Laurent Sempéré (line-out) |
William Servat (scrum) | |
Backs and attack coach | Patrick Arlettaz |
Defence coach | Shaun Edwards |
Head of high performance | Nicolas Jeanjean |
Head of video analysis | Nicolas Buffa |
Kicking coach | Vlok Cilliers |
Discipline and refereeing advisor | Jérôme Garcès |
Players[edit]
Current squad[edit]
On 17 January 2024, Fabien Galthié named France's final 34-man squad for the 2024 Six Nations Championship.[77] On 22 January, Anthony Jelonch and Emmanuel Meafou withdrew injured after sustaining damages in an Investec Champions Cup game against Bath the day before and were replaced by uncapped Alexandre Roumat and veteran Paul Willemse.[78][79]
On 28 January 2024, Posolo Tuilagi and Lenni Nouchi were called up to the squad while Matthias Halagahu and Roumat were released. Léo Barré was also called up due to an injury to Melvyn Jaminet.[80]
On 4 February 2024, Dany Priso was added to the squad, after Reda Wardi was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a fractured wrist, which was suffered during the opening round match against Ireland.[81]
On 15 February 2024, Marko Gazzotti was added to the squad.[82]
Head coach: Fabien Galthié
- Caps updated: 16 March 2024
Selection policy[edit]
In December 2016, when World Rugby was considering a change in the eligibility rules for international selection, FFR president Bernard Laporte announced that the body would require that all France national team members hold French passports. This requirement is in addition to then-current WR rules mandating three years' residency for international selection, a period which WR increased to five years effective from 31 December 2020.[83] Players who represented France prior to Laporte's announcement remained eligible for selection even if they did not hold French passports.[84] Thus, since 2016 France have had the lowest number of foreign-born players in their Six Nations's squads.[85]
Notable players[edit]
Ten former France national team players have been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, with an eleventh awaiting induction in 2023. Its direct predecessor is the IRB Hall of Fame, founded in 2006 by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby, when it was known as the International Rugby Board. In late 2014, the IRB Hall merged with the separate International Rugby Hall of Fame, with all International Hall inductees becoming members of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.[86][87][88][89]
Marcel Communeau (1885–1971), a back-rower for Stade Français at club level, played in France's first official international match against New Zealand's Original All Blacks in 1906. He went on to earn 21 caps for France, serving as captain for the country's first Five Nations appearance in 1910 and leading France to its first-ever win in that competition in 1911 against Scotland. Communeau is also credited with suggesting that France adopt the rooster as its team emblem. He entered the World Rugby Hall in 2015.[90]
Jean Prat (1923–2005) earned 51 caps playing for France from 1945 to 1955, and captained France to their first wins over Wales and the All Blacks.[91] He was also France's captain in 1954 when they won their first ever Five Nations (shared with Wales and England).[92] Prat was inducted to the International Hall of Fame in 2001[91] and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011.[89]
Lucien Mias (1930–2024), nicknamed Docteur Pack, was credited with inventing the concept of the advantage line in forward play. When inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011, he was called "one of the most influential captains of his country". He was most noted for captaining France to a Test series win over South Africa in 1958, the first such feat in the 20th century for a touring team.[89]
André Boniface (1934–2024) also played in France's win over the All Blacks in 1954; it was only his second test for France. Boniface went on to play 48 tests for France before retiring in 1966.[93] He was inducted to the International Hall in 2005[93] and the IRB Hall in 2011.[89]
Guy Boniface (1937–1968) emerged on the international scene shortly after his older brother André, although the two did not play together in the same France side until 1961. According to the IRB, the Boniface brothers "redefined the concept of back play through their unique blend of skill and creativity." Guy won 35 caps for France before his death in an auto accident in 1968. He was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame alongside his brother in 2011.[89]
Jo Maso (born 1944) first played for France between 1966 and 1973; mainly at centre. He played in France's first ever Five Nations Grand Slam in 1968,[94] and that year toured New Zealand and Australia. He represented France in 25 tests and also played for the Barbarians and the World XV that beat England in 1971. Maso entered the International Hall in 2003[95] and became a member of the World Rugby Hall with the merger of the two halls of fame.[86] He is now the manager of the France national team.
Jean-Pierre Rives (born 1952), a 1997 inductee of the International Hall who entered the World Rugby Hall with the merger, played 59 tests for France between 1975 and 1984; including 34 as captain. He played in Five Nations Grand Slams in 1977 and 1981, and captained France to their first ever win over the All Blacks in New Zealand.[96] Rives is now a sculptor, and designed the Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (Italian: Trofeo Garibaldi; French: Trophée Garibaldi), which is competed for every year by France and Italy in the 6 Nations championship.[97]
Serge Blanco (born 1958) played in 93 tests for France between 1980 and 1991. Playing at fullback Blanco won Five Nations Grand Slams with France in 1981 and 1987, and scored the match-winning try in France's semi-final against Australia in the 1987 World Cup.[98] He is past president both of his longtime club, Biarritz Olympique, and France's national professional league, Ligue Nationale de Rugby. Blanco was inducted to the International Hall in 1997[98] and the IRB Hall in 2011.[89]
Centre Philippe Sella (born 1962), who was also in the 1987 team, played 111 times for France between 1982 and 1995, setting an appearances record that stood until Fabien Pelous, who himself would be indicted into the World Rugby Hall in 2017, broke it during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. In 1986, he achieved the rare feat of scoring a try in each of France's Five Nations matches.[99][100] Sella entered the International Hall in 1999[99] and the IRB Hall in 2005.[88]
Lock Fabien Pelous (born 1973) was inducted into the World Rugby Hall in 2017 at a ceremony at the Hall's physical location in Rugby.[101] He appeared 118 times for France from 1995 to 2007, surpassing Sella as France's most-capped player. According to World Rugby, "Pelous' spirit and robustness in the heat of battle made him perfect captaincy material", and he would captain Les Bleus 42 times, with only Thierry Dusautoir serving as captain on more occasions. In his 18-season club career, 12 of which were with his hometown club Toulouse, he helped Toulouse to two European and three French titles.[102]
Flanker Thierry Dusautoir (born 1981) was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023 at the World Rugby Awards ceremony in Paris. Appearing 80 times for France, 56 as captain, from 2006 to 2015, he played in three World Cups. Two of his greatest personal accolades came in World Cup matches against New Zealand—he was Player of the Match in France's losing effort in the 2011 World Cup final, and set a World Cup record of 38 tackles in France's win in the 2007 World Cup quarterfinals. At club level, he played on teams that won five French titles and one European Cup.[103]
Award winners[edit]
World Rugby Awards[edit]
The following France players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:[104]
|
|
|
Year | Date | Scorer | Match | Tournament | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 26 March | Damian Penaud | vs. Scotland | Six Nations | [105] |
Six Nations Player of the Championship[edit]
The following France players have been shortlisted for the Six Nations Player of the Championship since 2004:[106]
Year | 1st XV | 2nd XV | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Forwards | Backs | Forwards | Backs | |||||
No. | Players | No. | Players | No. | Players | No. | Players | |
2021 | — | 9. | Antoine Dupont | Not awarded | ||||
2022 | 1. | Cyril Baille | 9. | Antoine Dupont (2) | ||||
10. | Romain Ntamack | |||||||
2. | Julien Marchand | 11. | Gabin Villière | |||||
5. | Paul Willemse | 12. | Jonathan Danty | |||||
6. | François Cros | 13. | Gaël Fickou | |||||
8. | Grégory Alldritt | 14. | Damian Penaud | |||||
2023 | 4. | Thibaud Flament | 9. | Antoine Dupont (3) | 2. | Julien Marchand | 15. | Thomas Ramos |
5. | Paul Willemse | |||||||
14. | Damian Penaud (2) | 7. | Charles Ollivon | |||||
8. | Grégory Alldritt | |||||||
2024 | 3. | Uini Atonio | 15. | Thomas Ramos | Not awarded |
|
Individual all-time records[edit]
The record for points scored for France is 436, held by Frédéric Michalak, who surpassed previous record holder Christophe Lamaison on 22 August 2015.[109][110] Lamaison continues to hold the record for conversions with 59.[110] The record for penalties scored is 89 by Thierry Lacroix, and the drop goal record of 15 is held by Jean-Patrick Lescarboura.[110] The record for French appearances is held by Fabien Pelous with 118.[110] The record for tries scored for France is with 38 held by Serge Blanco.[110]
Honours[edit]
Worldwide[edit]
- Latin Cup
- Champions (2): 1995, 1997
- Autumn Nations Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2020
Continental[edit]
- Five Nations/Six Nations Championship
- Champions (18): 1959, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1977, 1981, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2022
- Champions (shared; 8): 1954, 1955, 1960, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1986, 1988
- Runners-up (15): 1951, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1991, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024
- Runners-up (shared; 12): 1921, 1930, 1931, 1948, 1949, 1956, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1975, 1992
- Third place (9): 1958, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2017
- Third place (shared; 5): 1923, 1928, 1947, 1950, 1964
Slams[edit]
Rivalry trophies[edit]
- Auld Alliance Trophy (4): 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Dave Gallaher Trophy (2): 2009, 2021
- Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (15): 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Trophée des Bicentenaires (7): 2001, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2014, 2022, 2023
See also[edit]
- Dave Gallaher Trophy – trophy for tests between France and New Zealand
- France national rugby sevens team – national rugby sevens team
- Le Crunch – traditional name for tests between France and England
- Trophée des Bicentenaires – trophy for tests between France and Australia
References[edit]
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Bibliography[edit]
- Dine, Philip (2001). French Rugby Football—Cultural History. Berg. ISBN 978-1859733271.
External links[edit]
- Official website (in French)
- France on IRB.com