France

France have omitted fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc from their World Cup squad in favour of Frederic Michalak.

England approach the deadline for naming their World Cup squad wounded by an abject defeat to France that drew scathing verdicts from coach and captain.

England's preparations for the home World Cup suffered a setback after they slumped to a 25-20 defeat by France that at least featured a stirring late fightback.

Luther Burrell is ready to tackle the latest hurdle in his career when he performs his final audition for a place in England's World Cup squad.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has picked a strong pack that is close to first choice in the hope of outmuscling England once again in Saturday's World Cup warm-up match in Paris.

France have selected first-choice centre pairing Wesley Fofana and Mathieu Bastareaud for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against England in Paris.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster insists selecting his centres for the World Cup is a decision that will go down to the wire, but appears to be closing in on his preferred quartet.

England and France got their Rugby World Cup warm-up schedules underway on Saturday night, with England triumphing over France at Twickenham, 19-14.

Hooker Dimitri Szarzewski will captain France for their 100th international against England in the first of two World Cup warm-up matches between the old rivals.

Stuart Lancaster has named an experimental side to play France this weekend, clearly with an emphasis on examining the potential merits of his fringe players, rather than honing the chemistry of his 1st XV.

Any team that enters this year’s Rugby World Cup has but one initial goal – emerge from the group stages and qualify for the quarter-finals.

The Hawk-Eye system will make its international rugby debut during England-France on Saturday

The bidding battle to host Rugby World Cup 2023 is set to be between four countries - Ireland, France, Italy and South Africa.

“What rugby clubs are looking for these days, is a team full of Gavin Hastings clones. It’s not the game I played.”

Lacklustre performances at senior level and an unrivalled foreign influx into the Top 14 may have some concerned about the long-term health of French rugby, but there is certainly no shortage of talent emerging for Les Bleus.

England bosses are "all in agreement" on refusing to select overseas-based stars despite Toulouse trying to prise Manu Tuilagi away from Leicester, according to RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie.

France head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has omitted Clermont Auvergne fly-half Camille Lopez and Racing Metro wing Teddy Thomas from a 36-man World Cup training squad announced on Tuesday.

Sir Clive Woodward wants to replace Philippe Saint-Andre as head coach of France, according to reports in the French press.

Lawrence Dallaglio views the poor performance of English clubs in Europe as a "crisis" for French rugby rather than evidence of a gulf in class between the Aviva Premiership and Top 14.

As the 2015 Rugby World Cup draws ever closer Mike Stanton continues to look at some of the best young players that could feature at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. This week it is French midfield mystero, Gael Fickou.