The France national rugby union team represents France in men’s international rugby union. Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Years Day 1906, the national side played its first test match – against New Zealand in Paris. The team’s home matches are mostly played at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. They traditionally play in blue shirts emblazoned with the national emblem of a golden rooster on a red shield, with white shorts and red socks. They are commonly referred to as Les Tricolores or Les Bleus.
About France national rugby union team in brief
The France national rugby union team represents France in men’s international rugby union and it is administered by the French Rugby Federation. Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Years Day 1906, the national side played its first test match – against New Zealand in Paris. The team’s home matches are mostly played at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. They traditionally play in blue shirts emblazoned with the national emblem of a golden rooster on a red shield, with white shorts and red socks; thus they are commonly referred to as Les Tricolores or Les Bleus. 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. Since then they have won the title outright 17 times, including nine grand slams, and shared it eight times. 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 the All Blacks in 1987 and 2011, and to Australia in 1999. France is ranked 4th in the World Rugby Rankings as of 3 November 2020, and will once again host the tournament in 2023. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s. They 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.
France were represented at the 1900 Summer Olympics but their first official test match did not take place till New Year’s Day, 1906 against the New Zealand All Blacks. In 1913 France faced South Africa’s Springboks for the first time; losing 38–5. Their first championship was won in 1954 when they shared the title with England and Wales. France first toured South Africa winning the test series in 1958. In 1977, France won their second Grand Slam, fielding an unchanged side throughout the tournament and conceding no tries. On Bastille Day, 1979 they defeated the All blacks in New Zealand for theFirst time, at Eden Park in Auckland. In 1981 the French clinched their third Grand Slam; at Twickenham against England. In 1987 they came from behind numerous times to defeat the Wallabies in the final of the World Cup, and lost the semi-final to Australia. In 1989 France hosted some of the tests during the 1991 World Cup but made their exit from the quarter-final after being knocked out by England at the Parc des Princes des Princces. The following year France won a test series 2–0 in the early 1990s, but did not play their third place play-off match. France won the One Five Nations championship in 1993, and also won it in 1989 and 1990. They also competed at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics and on both occasions lost to the United States in a gold medal match.
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