In the game of rugby union, there are 15 players on each team, comprising eight forwards and seven backs. In addition, there may be up to eight replacement players "on the bench", numbered 16–23. Players are not restricted to a single position, although they generally specialise in just one or two that suit their skills and body types. Players that play multiple positions are called "utility players".
Serge Blanco is a former rugby union rugby player who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing. He was generally nicknamed by French rugby fans as the Pelé of Rugby.
The France national rugby union team represents the French Rugby Federation in men's international rugby union matches. Colloquially known as Le XV de 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 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, winning the Grand Slam 10 times.
Philippe Sella is a French former rugby union player. He started as a rugby league junior in his home town before switching to rugby union. As a former French rugby union player, he held the record for most international appearances until beaten by Jason Leonard. He became a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.
Jean-Pierre Rives is a French former rugby union player and visual artist. "A cult figure in France", according to the BBC, he came to epitomise the team's spirit and "ultra-committed, guts-and-glory style of play". He won 59 caps for France – 34 of them as captain – and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. After retiring from the sport, Rives concentrated entirely on his art. He is both a painter and a sculptor, and exhibiting regularly at prominent public venues all over the globe. Rives was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor and the National Order of Merit by the government of France.
Morné du Plessis OIS is a former South African rugby union player often described as one of the Springboks' most successful captains. During the five years from 1975 to 1980 that he served as captain, the Springboks won 13 of 15 matches, giving Du Plessis an 86.66% success rate as captain.
Jean Prat was a French rugby union footballer. He played as a flanker. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1959. He is considered one of the best French rugby players of all time and was inducted into both the International Rugby Hall of Fame and IRB Hall of Fame, in 2001 and 2011 respectively. His younger brother. Maurice Prat, also appeared for France, with the pair appearing together at international level on a number of occasions.
Alfred Ronald Dawson was a rugby union player who was a hooker for Ireland. He was captain of the British Lions rugby union team on their 1959 tour to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
André Boniface was an international rugby union player for France. His usual position was either on the wing or in the centres. His Test career for France, 1954 through to 1966, included 48 caps and 44 points. Boniface was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2005. Both he and his younger brother Guy Boniface were inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in March 2011. Boniface died on 8 April 2024, at the age of 89.
Racing Club de Narbonne Méditerannée is a French rugby union club that play in the third-level Nationale.
Jean Barthe was a French Rugby League and Rugby Union player.
Vasil Katsadze is a Georgian rugby union and rugby league player. He played as a wing and as a flanker in rugby union.
Mathieu Khedimi was a French rugby league coach and player. He played as hooker or lock forward. He played his entire career for AS Saint-Estève with which he won several titles. An author of the rugby league literature considered him as "long the soul of the club".
George Aillères was a French rugby league player who represented France in the 1968 World Cup. He was the father of the fellow France rugby league international Pierre Aillères. He was nicknamed "Le Cube" due to his "imposing physical presence".
The Elite Messieurs, also known as Cameroon Basketball League, is the premier basketball league for clubs in Cameroon. The league consisted out of 8 teams in the 2022–23 season.
Robert Médus, was a French former rugby union and rugby league footballer.
Gérard Murillo was a French rugby union player and manager.
Lucien Pariès was a French rugby union international.
