Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:orgs/cs_bourgoin-jallieutag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/golden_dawn_sight_French_rugby_b9e0

Normally a Six Nations wooden spoon two years ahead of the World Cup would not augur well for a country's chances but when it's France all bets are off.

2013-03-18T11:10:02ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/27/French_should_follow_English_example_f48d

French rugby should follow England's example when it comes to looking after their players and not overloading the schedule, France rugby coach Philippe Saint-Andre told AFP.

2013-01-28T03:48:12ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/22/Grandfathers_heroism_DNA_coach_Saint-Andre_79bd

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre's hugely successful career so far has been due in large part to the principles he has taken from his grandfather, who was executed by the Nazis during World War II, he told AFP.

2013-01-23T04:12:32ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/11/17/Lets_take_foot_pedal_Saint-Andre_2183

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre congratulated his side for their clinical 39-22 victory over traditional bogey side Argentina here Saturday but warned them not to take their foot off the pedal for the third and final November test against Samoa next Saturday.

2012-11-17T23:18:25ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/26/Stade_Francais_lock_Pape_extension_221d

France international lock Pascal Pape has signed a new three-year contract with Stade Francais, keeping him at the Top 14 outfit until 2016, the club announced on Friday.

2012-10-26T15:09:35ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/03/12/France_make_changes_Nations_clash_28e1

Coach Philippe Saint-Andre on Monday made six changes to his squad to take on Wales for the final day of the Six Nations tournament in Cardiff.

2012-03-12T15:13:37ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/02/27/France_must_wake_Nations_clash_dd87

France cannot afford to let Ireland take the initiative next Sunday because there will be no way back unlike against the Scots and French dreams of a Six Nations Grand Slam will lie in tatters said coach Philippe Saint-Andre.

2012-02-28T02:46:57ZAFP Global Editionby Baptiste Pacetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/08/30/Saint-Andre_proud_next_French_rugby_a9ba

Philippe Saint-Andre said it was a dream and an honour for him to be named the next coach of the French national rugby team at a press conference here on Tuesday.

2011-08-30T16:41:48ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/08/25/Saint-Andre_confirmed_next_France_coach_a76d

The French rugby federation (FFR) confirmed on Thursday that former France wing and current Toulon sporting director Philippe Saint-Andre would take over from Marc Lievremont as coach of the national team after the World Cup.

2011-08-25T19:55:56ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/08/03/Rugby_player_Bias_re-signs_Brive_2f46

Back row forward Alexandre Bias signed for French Top 14 side Brive for a second time on Wednesday after battling against Hodgkins disease.

2011-08-03T18:15:22ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/08/Lyon_promoted_rugby_first_time_bf45

Lyon gained promotion to the Top 14 for the first time on Sunday as a 23-14 victory over relegated St Etienne confirmed they would finish top of the second division.

2011-05-08T16:30:55ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/04/23/Toulouse_clinch_semi-final_berth_4f21

Toulouse booked the first semi-final berth of the French Top 14 on Saturday with a 33-0 thrashing of relegated Bourgoin.

2011-04-23T20:47:13ZAFP Global Editionby Emmeline Mooretag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/04/15/Toulon_look_bounce_back_against_1d1c

Toulon's once promising season is in danger of ending in disappointment and the expensively-assembled squad require a win over Top 14 leaders Toulouse on Saturday to stay in touch with the play-off contenders.

2011-04-16T00:48:38ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/04/02/Bayonne_stun_Racing-Metro_f674

Racing Metro's French title hopes took a major hit on Saturday as they slumped to an upset 26-16 loss at lowly Bayonne.

2011-04-02T21:45:04ZAFP Global Editionby Allan Kellytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/26/Racing_issue_French_rugby_title_a82a

Racing-Metro made a triumphant debut home appearance at the Stade de France on Saturday easing to an impressive 43-21 win over Top 14 leaders Toulouse.

2011-03-26T22:52:11ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/17/Players_must_France_mire_says_02f8

The French players intend to bow out of this year's Six Nations with a performance against Wales on Saturday that restores some of their battered pride, says scrum-half Morgan Parra.

2011-03-17T03:14:44ZAFP Global Editionby Baptiste Pacetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/07/Injured_Hernandez_doubt_rugby_World_e82a

Racing Metro's injury-prone Argentinian star Juan Martin Hernandez has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a ruptured knee ligament and is a doubt for the September 9-October 23 World Cup.

2011-03-07T13:04:18ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/05/Perpignan_dent_Stade_play-off_hopes_7f70

Top 14 2009 champions Perpignan did their hopes of reaching the end of season play-offs a huge favour on Saturday whilst denting the hopes of their opponents Stade Francais in a 21-9 away win.

2011-03-05T22:41:21ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwintag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/04/Clermont_win_Toulon_grab_precious_4d8c

Clermont moved into provisional second with a 19-12 win over Toulon for whom Friday's Top 14 loss came with a potentially gilt-edged lining as they grabbed a precious bonus point to move into sixth and play-off contention.

2011-03-04T23:12:15ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/03/03/Toulon_under_pressure_result_Clermont_a4b1

Toulon go into Friday's Top 14 away clash with champions Clermont needing a win to keep themselves firmly in the hunt for the top-six finish that guarantees a place in the end-of-season play-offs.

2011-03-04T03:40:57ZAFP Global Editionby Pirate Irwin