Rugby world cup 2007 is now knocking at the door. The sixth edition of Rugby world cup will start from 7 September 2007 in France. France as a host nation will be one of the strong contenders of the world cup rugby 2007. France has a long tradition of Rugby as the sport was first introduced in 1872. France played their first international rugby match against New Zealand in 1906. France now occupies no. 3 position in world ranking after New Zealand and Australia.
France is definitely one of the major rugby playing nations in the world. They have participated in every world cup yet though they could not lift the rugby world cup trophy yet. They became runner up in 1987 and 1999 world cup. In 1987 they lost to New Zealand in the final whereas in rugby world cup 1999 they lost to Australia. In 1995 world cup, France got the third place. Except 1991 world cup, France never missed their semi final appearance.
Now, being the host of 2007 Rugby World Cup, France will definitely try to win their first ever rugby world cup title in front of the home crowd. Coach Bernard Laporte has recently declared his 30 member squad where he did not included Oliver Magne, Pascal Papé and Thomas Castaignède. Pascal Papé is the former captain of France who captained France in New Zealand recently. Dimitri Yachvili could not make it to the world cup squad as coach has given the opportunity to Jean-Baptiste Elissalde. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde will join scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.
Sylvain Marconnet has given a chance in the squad despite having a broken leg injury. Full back Clément Poitrenaud will also be playing the coming world cup as coach did not give any chance to Castaignède. The recent bad new for France is that veteran prop forward Sylvain Marconnet has fallen in a left ankle injury and thus this 71 caped experienced member will miss the world cup in his home soil.
France will play against Argentina, Ireland, Georgia and Namibia in Pool D. France is expected to qualify for the quarter final as the champion of this pool. I am giving the names of the players of the France world cup squad below:
Forwards: Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Français), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Français), Olivier Milloud (Bourgoin), Jean-Baptiste Poux (Stade Toulousain), Raphaël Ibañez (London Wasps), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français), Sébastien Bruno (Sale Sharks), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain), Jérôme Thion (Biarritz), Sébastien Chabal (Sale Sharks), Lionel Nallet (Castres), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Julien Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz), Elvis Vermeulen (Clermont), Yannick Nyanga (Stade Toulousain), Rémy Martin (Stade Français).
Backs: Pierre Mignoni (Clermont), Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Stade Toulousain), Frédéric Michalak (Stade Toulousain), David Skrela (Stade Français), Lionel Beauxis (Stade Français), Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), Damien Traille (Biarritz), David Marty (Perpignan), Christophe Dominici (Stade Français), Aurélien Rougerie (Clermont), Cédric Heymans (Stade Toulousain), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Clément Poitrenaud (Stade Toulousain).
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