The France national rugby union team represents France in men's international rugby union and it is administered by the French Rugby Federation. 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 team's home matches are mostly played at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. 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. France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form the Five Nations Championship in 1910. 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. Since then they have won the title outright 18 times, including ten grand slams, and shared it eight times.
Sean Lamont is a Scottish former international rugby union player and now Strength and Conditioning Coach. He played at centre and on the wing. He gained 105 caps for Scotland before retiring from international rugby in 2017.
Mirco Bergamasco is an Italian rugby union and rugby league footballer. Bergamasco has played both rugby league and rugby union, and is a dual-code rugby international, having played for both the Italy national rugby union team and the Italy national rugby league team. He primarily plays at centre or wing. He played in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups as well as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Alun Wyn Jones is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for the Ospreys. He is the world's most-capped rugby union player, with 158 caps for Wales and 12 for the British & Irish Lions, and also holds the records for the most Wales caps and the most Wales caps as captain. He retired from international rugby in 2023.
Leonardo Ghiraldini is a retired Italian international rugby union player. Ghiraldini's playing position is hooker.
Donnacha Ryan is an Irish former rugby union player and current coach. Ryan spent most of his career representing his native province Munster, spending 13 seasons at the club, before moving to French club Racing 92 in 2017, where he spent the final four seasons of his playing career before retiring and joining the coaching team at La Rochelle ahead of the 2021–22 season. He played primarily as a lock, but could also play as a flanker.
Rhys Webb is a Welsh rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Ospreys. Born in Bridgend, he is a product of the Ospreys academy and played club rugby for Bridgend RFC and Aberavon RFC before breaking into the regional side in 2008. He played for the Ospreys for 10 years before moving to French club Toulon in 2018, but terminated his contract with them in 2020 and agreed a return to the Ospreys; however, he was unable to join the Ospreys immediately and signed for Bath for the remainder of the 2019–20 season before returning to the Ospreys.
Keith Gerard Earls is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship club Munster and the Ireland national team.
George Thomas Ford is an English professional rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Sale Sharks and England. Ford made his debut for Leicester in 2009 and between 2013–2017 played for Bath, before re-joining Leicester, until 2021 when he signed for Sale Sharks for the 2022–23 Premiership season. Ford made his England debut in 2014, was selected for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final. He won Premiership Rugby titles in 2013 and 2022 for Leicester, and was a finalist in 2012 and 2015 for Leicester and Bath respectively.
Gerard Conor Murray is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for United Rugby Championship club Munster and the Ireland national team.
Stuart William Hogg is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a fullback for the Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. He has represented Scotland at international level, having made his test debut against Wales during the 2012 Six Nations Championship.
Christiaan Johan Stander is a South African-born Irish former rugby union player. Stander's career began in his native South Africa, where he played for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup between 2010 and 2012 and for the Bulls in Super Rugby in 2012. He moved to Irish province Munster in 2012 and, after qualifying via residency in 2015, made his debut for Ireland in 2016, going on to earn 51 caps for his adopted country, as well as 1 cap for the British & Irish Lions in 2017, before retiring in 2021.
Jonathan Byron Alexander Joseph is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Premiership Rugby club Bath Rugby. He played more than fifty games for England between 2012 and 2020.
Jack Thomas Nowell is an English professional rugby union player for Premiership side Exeter Chiefs. He also represents England. His position of choice is wing but he can also play as a full-back or outside centre.
Virimi Vakatawa is a Fijian-born French former professional rugby union player who played as a centre or a wing for Racing 92 and the French national team.
Christopher Robert Eric Farrell is an Irish rugby union player for French Pro D2 club Oyonnax. He plays as a centre.
Oghenemaro Miles "Maro" Itoje is an English professional rugby union player, who plays as a lock or as a blindside flanker for Gallagher Premiership club Saracens and the England national team. He signed his first professional contract with Saracens in 2012, and made his first appearance the following year. He received his first-call up to the England team in 2016 ahead of the annual Six Nations Championship, and became a firm favourite to both Saracens and England fans.
Toa Halafihi is a New Zealand-born Italian professional rugby union player who primarily plays number eight for Benetton of the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Italy at international level, having made his test debut against France during the 2022 Six Nations Championship. Halafihi has previously played for clubs such as Poverty Bay, Taranaki, Hurricanes, and Lyon in the past.
Kieran Richard Hardy is a Welsh professional rugby union player who primarily plays scrum-half for the Scarlets of the United Rugby Championship. He has also represented Wales at international level, having made his test debut against Georgia during the Autumn Nations Cup. Hardy has previously played for clubs such as the Jersey Reds in the past.
Audrey Forlani is a French rugby union player who has made at least 47 appearances for the France women's national rugby union team. At club level, she plays for French women's Premier Division club Blagnac.
