Just across the road from where we live in south-west France there’s a football pitch complete with dressing

papers on the 1980 Lions Tour, was a celebrated figure as captain of the Angouleme team in south-west France

But I did my best.Meanwhile, France are girding themselves for what their head coach, Fabien Galthie,

utterances in recent days over the lopsided look of this World Cup, where we now have two quarter-finals – France

tournament than the one for the Rugby World Cup ©Getty ImagesFor instance, the draw for the World Cup that France

Boats from Irish clubs won three gold medals at the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Barletta in Italy.

Ronan Byrne.They were comfortable heading into the final buoys as Vincent Noirot and Edwige Alfred of France

Poland, United States and Germany all qualified for Paris 2024 with perfect records from three Olympic men's volleyball qualification tournaments held in three cities.

Committee has banned team sports from the country due to the invasion of Ukraine.Olympic gold medallists France

French President Emmanuel Macron has used his attendance at Paralympic Day in Paris to urge the public to buy tickets for next year's Games.

to encourage all our compatriots to buy tickets", the French President said, as reported by Agence France-Presse

Japan's athletes excelled at the World Judo Juniors Championships in the Portuguese city of Coimbra, winning 10 of the available 15 golds.

dominance.Veronica Toniolo of Italy won the women's under-57kg final against Riko Honda and Melkia Auchecorne of France

More than 100 elected officials have backed the French bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics centred on Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes' and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

President ©Getty ImagesHowever, there is opposition from local environmental groups to the plans, and France

The United States' Olympic champion Alix Klineman with new playing partner Hailey Harward got off to a winning start at the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Championships in Tlaxcala.

first Olympics quota places for Paris 2024 in beach volleyball after that reserved for host nation France

The world number one ranked side in the world Ireland reached the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, and secured top spot in Pool B, after beating Scotland 36-14 in Paris.

stages.Any hope of victory was quashed early on as Ireland got off to a blistering start at the Stade de France

quarter-final match-ups with South Africa, who finished second in Pool B, up against hosts and Pool A winners France

Australia's hopes of staging the 2034 men's FIFA World Cup have been dealt a further blow because it would reportedly fall short of the infrastructural standards required.

teams from the 2026 edition, but critics argue this is too big and the 32-nation format used since France

Hosts France finished the Rugby World Cup pool stages in style with a big win over European neighbours

France ran in eight tries at the OL Stadium in Lyon as they finished the pool phase unbeaten with four

96 points against New Zealand ©Getty ImagesA dummied pass from Jalibert enabled him to get the fifth France

the next as the blue wave continued.Two impressive team moves were finished off by Yoram Moefana as France

nation, after they shipped 96 points against New Zealand seven days ago.The match concludes Pool A with France

Basketball star Joel Embiid has pledged his allegiance to the United States as he hopes to make his Olympic debut at Paris 2024.

The 29-year-old was born in Cameroon and holds dual citizenship in France and the United States.The Philadelphia

Basketball Association (NBA).It was reported last year that Embiid started the process to represent France

 USA defeated France to win gold at Tokyo 2020 ©Getty Images"I am blessed to call Cameroon, France

International Basketball Federation event.The recruiting win for the United States is a blow for Olympic hosts France

, who settled for silver in the Tokyo 2020 final.The US, France, Germany, Serbia, Canada, Australia,

Sapporo has decided to walk away from bidding for the 2030 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

that was withdrawn due to a lack of Government support.The United States, Sweden, Switzerland, and France

French President Emmanual Macron has confirmed his attendance at Sunday's (October 8) Paralympic Day celebrations in the capital Paris.

France is due to host the Summer Paralympics for the first time in Paris next year from August 28 to

Three-time winners New Zealand hammered Uruguay in their final Pool A match of the men's Rugby World Cup in Lyon to become the third team to seal a place in the quarter-finals.

defending champions suffered a first-ever pool stage defeat at the World Cup in their opener against hosts France

effort,Fainga'anuku sealed his hat-trick with the last try of the match, also converted by Barrett.Hosts France

for the top two in Pool A.Victory for favourites Ireland would set up a tie against New Zealand with France

Paris 2024 quotas for winners is expected to make the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Championships in Tlaxcala, Mexico, exciting.

men's teams taking part.Germany and Brazil too have come up with a large team along with Australia, France