Rugby France History

Perhaps no country's rugby league history is as interesting as France's.

The sport was only launched in the country because the rugby union side were banned from participating in rugby union's Five Nations tournament in 1934, so they decided to form a rugby league association instead.
The first international France took part in was played in April of that year when they lost in Paris to England, but the game had caught the public's imagination in a huge way and it exploded in popularity.

However, World War Two damaged the sport because rugby union officials tried to get the occupying German forces to ban the game, which drove down its new-found success.

After the War, though, the French side enjoyed perhaps their finest ever era, including 21 wins from 28 matches on a tour to Australia, as well as coming runners-up in the 1954 and 1968 World Cups.

French success has been more sporadic since, although a shock 1990 win against a very strong Great Britain team once again got the champagne corks popping.

The involvement of the Catalans Dragons in England's Super League has seen an improvement in the style, fitness and abilities of France's players, with Olivier Elima and Thomas Bosc just two stars who currently turn heads.

However, the duo plus their team-mates could not prevent France having a miserable 2008 World Cup, where they went out in the early stages.