France women's national rugby union team

Last updated
France
UnionFrench Rugby Federation
Head coach Gaëlle Mignot & David Ortiz
Captain Gaëlle Hermet
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First colours
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Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current3 (as of 9 January 2023)
Highest2 (2005–2006, 2015–2016)
Lowest6 (2008–2009)
First international
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0–4 France  Flag of France.svg
( Utrecht, Netherlands; 13 June 1982)
Biggest win
Flag of France.svg  France 99–0 Japan  Flag of Japan.svg
( Edinburgh, Scotland; 17 April 1994)
Biggest defeat
Flag of France.svg  France 0–109 New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg
( Edmonton, Canada; 14 September 1996)
World Cup
Appearances9 (First in 1991)
Best result3rd place, 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017 and 2021

The France women's national rugby union team represents France in women's international rugby union. They played the first-ever women's rugby union test match against the Netherlands on 13 June 1982. They compete annually in the Women's Six Nations Championship and have placed third in seven of nine Rugby World Cup's.

Contents

History

Source: "Des Filles en Ovalie", Éditions Atlantica (2005), Written by Jacques Corte / Yaneth Pinilla B. Foreword by Serge Betsen.

There are records of women's rugby being played in France as early as the mid-1890s, and in the 1920s a form of the game called "barette" was very popular, with national championships. However, after the 1930s the game had all but disappeared and was not revived until 1965 when groups of students in Lyon and Toulouse decided to take part in the great charitable campaign against world hunger. Most of them had brothers and friends who played rugby, so they decided to organise a charity game at Bourg-en-Bresse.

So successful was this that a regular series of games began, with clubs being formed as students graduated, initially mainly in the south. In 1969 a national association – the ARF [Women's Rugby Association] – was formed. Despite initial opposition to the game from both the government and the FFR (who briefly banned any FFR officials from officiating at women's games) by 1976 12 clubs were taking part in national competitions.

In 1982, by which time the number of clubs had more than doubled, the ARF signed a memorandum of understanding was agreed with the FFR which finally gave their official backing – and in the same year France took part in the first ever women's rugby international.

Players

Current squad

France announced their 35-player squad on 8 March for the 2024 Women's Six Nations Championship. [1] [2] [3]

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Agathe Sochat Hooker (1995-05-21)21 May 1995 (aged 28) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Elisa Riffonneau Hooker (2003-11-26)26 November 2003 (aged 20)4 Flag of England.svg Trailfinders Women
Manon Bigot Hooker (1990-06-06)6 June 1990 (aged 33)2 Flag of France.svg Blagnac
Annaëlle Deshaye Prop (1996-03-16)16 March 1996 (aged 28)16 Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Clara Joyeux Prop (1998-01-10)10 January 1998 (aged 26) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Assia Khalfaoui Prop (2001-03-24)24 March 2001 (aged 22) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Coco Lindelauf Prop (2001-01-17)17 January 2001 (aged 23) Flag of France.svg Blagnac Rugby
Rose Bernadou Prop (2000-03-27)27 March 2000 (aged 23) Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Kiara Zago Second row (2005-10-11)11 October 2005 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Ambre Mwayembe Second row (2004-04-06)6 April 2004 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Madoussou Fall Second row (1998-03-17)17 March 1998 (aged 26) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Manae Feleu Second row (2000-02-03)3 February 2000 (aged 24) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Romane Ménager Back row (1996-07-26)26 July 1996 (aged 27) Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Gaëlle Hermet Back row (1996-06-12)12 June 1996 (aged 27) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Emeline Gros Back row (1995-08-19)19 August 1995 (aged 28) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Axelle Berthoumieu Back row (2000-07-09)9 July 2000 (aged 23) Flag of France.svg Blagnac Rugby
Charlotte Escudero Back row (2000-12-26)26 December 2000 (aged 23) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Léa Champon Back row (2003-11-28)28 November 2003 (aged 20) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Pauline Bourdon-Sansus Scrum-half (1995-11-04)4 November 1995 (aged 28) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Lina Tuy Scrum-half (2004-09-10)10 September 2004 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg ASM Romagnat
Océane Bordes Scrum-half (2002-05-16)16 May 2002 (aged 21) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Alexandra Chambon Scrum-half (2000-08-02)2 August 2000 (aged 23) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Suliana Sivi Scrum-half 2004 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg Stade Rennais
Chloé Vauclin Scrum-half (2005-03-07)7 March 2005 (aged 19) Flag of France.svg Stade Rennais
Caroline Drouin Fly-half (1996-07-07)7 July 1996 (aged 27) Flag of France.svg Stade Rennais
Nassira Kounde Centre (1999-07-30)30 July 1999 (aged 24) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Gabrielle Vernier Centre (1997-06-12)12 June 1997 (aged 26) Flag of France.svg Blagnac Rugby
Lina Queyroi Centre (2001-05-18)18 May 2001 (aged 22) Flag of France.svg Blagnac Rugby
Teani Feleu Centre (2002-12-19)19 December 2002 (aged 21) Flag of France.svg FC Grenoble Amazones
Kelly Arbey Wing (2005-05-09)9 May 2005 (aged 18) Flag of France.svg Stade Toulousain
Marine Ménager Wing (1996-07-26)26 July 1996 (aged 27) Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Cyrielle Banet Wing (1994-08-29)29 August 1994 (aged 29) Flag of France.svg Montpellier
Émilie Boulard Fullback (1999-08-23)23 August 1999 (aged 24) Flag of France.svg Blagnac Rugby
Morgane Bourgeois Fullback (2003-02-06)6 February 2003 (aged 21) Flag of France.svg Stade Bordelais
Lilou Graciet Fullback (2004-02-26)26 February 2004 (aged 20) Flag of France.svg Lyon OU

Previous squads

Notable players

Award winners

World Rugby Awards

The following France players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001: [6]

World Rugby Women's 15s Try of the Year
YearDateNomineeMatchTournamentWinner
20213 April Emilie Boulard vs. Wales Six Nations Emilie Boulard
17 April Romane Ménager vs. Ireland Six Nations
202323 April Charlotte Escudero vs. Wales Six Nations

Six Nations Player of the Championship

The following France players have been shortlisted for the Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship since 2020: [7]

YearNomineesWinners
2021 Caroline Boujard
2022 Madoussou Fall Laure Sansus
Laure Sansus
2023 Gabrielle Vernier Gabrielle Vernier

Record

Top 20 rankings as of 6 May 2024 [8]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 096.90
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 090.56
3Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 087.27
4Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 086.27
5Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 081.61
6Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 075.99
7Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 074.28
8Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 074.26
9Steady2.svgIRFU flag.svg  Ireland 073.53
10Steady2.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 072.57
11Steady2.svgFlag of Japan.svg  Japan 069.38
12Steady2.svgFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 065.17
13Steady2.svgFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 065.15
14Steady2.svgFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 061.10
15Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 059.57
16Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 058.98
17Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 058.65
18Steady2.svgFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 058.31
19Steady2.svgFlag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 055.97
20Steady2.svgFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 052.72
*Change from the previous week

Note: Although the FFR list all of the following as full internationals or "test matches" in their publications (including their website), they do not award caps for all of the games. In particular, no caps have been officially awarded for appearances before 1989 (when the FFR became responsible for women's rugby), and most matches in FIRA tournaments after 2004 are uncapped. As a result, there can be a significant difference between the number of appearances players may have made for France and their official number of caps.

Overall

(Full internationals only)
Correct as of 29 April 2023

France internationals since 1982
OpponentFirst playedGames playedWonDrawnLostWin rate (%)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1998540180%
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 19881100100%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 19961690756.25%
Flag of England.svg  England 1991541404025.92%
Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 20221100100%
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 19971100100%
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 1986430175%
IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 199431271387.09%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 198527221481.48%
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 19913300100%
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan 19983300100%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 198212110191.66%
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 19961040640%
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 199829231579.31%
Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 2009541080%
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 198919140573.68%
Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 19914400100%
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 199613101276.92%
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 199429250486.20%
Total198226718357968.53%

World Cup

Rugby World Cup
YearRoundPositionGPWDLPFPA
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1991 Semi-finals*Third32019913
Flag of Scotland.svg 1994 3rd Place PlayoffThird540124026
Flag of the Netherlands.svg 1998 7th Place Playoff8th52035268
Flag of Spain.svg 2002 3rd Place PlayoffThird43019358
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg 2006 3rd Place PlayoffThird530210285
Flag of England.svg 2010 3rd Place Playoff4th53027091
Flag of France.svg 2014 3rd Place PlayoffThird540113942
IRFU flag.svg 2017 3rd Place PlayoffThird540117562
Flag of New Zealand.svg 2021 3rd Place PlayoffThird640219046
Flag of England.svg 2025 Qualified
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2029 TBD
Flag of the United States.svg 2033
Total9/93rd43290141160491
  Champion  Runner-up  Third place  Fourth place
* Tied placing Best placingHome venue

See also

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References

  1. "Tournoi des Six Nations féminin 2024 : Le groupe pour préparer l'Irlande et l'Ecosse" (in French). French Rugby Federation. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. "FRANCE REVEAL SQUAD FOR 2024 GUINNESS WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS - Guinness Women's Six Nations". www.sixnationsrugby.com. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  3. Rendell, Sarah (2024-03-28). "France Women's Six Nations Squad - One change for Scotland". Rugby World. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
  4. 1 2 3 World Rugby (18 November 2014). "2014 Inductee: Nathalie Amiel" . Retrieved 6 January 2015.
  5. AFP/de (channelnewsasia.com) (18 November 2014). "Rugby: Women enter IRB Hall of Fame for first time" . Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  6. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. "Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship". Six Nations Rugby . Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  8. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2024.