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The French national rugby league team are often nicknamed les chanticleers, after the cockerel which is the emblem of the team or as les tricoleurs. The team is administered by the Fédération Francaise de Rugby à Treize.
The French first took up the sport in the 1930s, and the national team’s first game was in Paris on 15th April 1934, losing 21-32 to England. The game of rugby league suffered in France during the Second World War, as the French Rugby Union authorities worked with the collaborating Vichy regime to have rugby league banned. Many players and officials of the sport were punished, whilst all of the assets of the rugby league and its clubs were handed over to the union. (See: history of rugby league#france).
After the war the French game was re-established and the French became one rugby league’s major powers, competing in the Rugby League World Cup and major international series against Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The 1951 and 1955 French tours of Australia are still regarded as two of the strongest sides ever to tour Australia.
However the game has since declined in France with many players defecting to rugby union, and les chanticleers are no longer the power they once were. They do not compete in the Tri-Nations, but do feature in the European Nations Cup, and other tournaments such the Victory Cup.
French team Union Treiziste Catalane (to be renamed Perpignan), are to be introduced Super League (Europe) in 2006. It is hoped that Perpignan will form the basis of the French national team just as New Zealand Warriors form the backbone of the New Zealand national team.
In 2004 the French returned to form with a narrow 20-24 defeat to New Zealand and a losing but creditable performance against Australia.
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