France national rugby sevens team

The France national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens, and other international tournaments. France's best finish in the World Series has been finishing in first (Grand Finals), which they accomplished in 2023-24. France are the reigning Olympic champions, having defeated reigning champions Fiji in the final in 2024.

France
UnionFrench Rugby Federation
Coach(es)Benoît Baby
Captain(s)Jonathan Laugel
Top scorerTerry Bouhraoua (1,173)
Most triesTerry Bouhraoua (131)
Team kit
Change kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances8 (First in 1993)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1997, 2005, 2013)
France national rugby sevens team
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2024 Paris Team

World Rugby Sevens Series

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World Series record
Position Times Seasons
1st 1 2023–24
4th 1 2022–23
6th 1 2019–20
7th 3 2003–04, 2005–06, 2021–22
8th 5 1999–00, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2018–19
9th 3 2001–02, 2011–12, 2012–13
10th 2 2010–11, 2013–14
11th 3 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
12th 1 2007–08
13th 4 2000–01, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2017–18
14th - 16th 0

Tournament history

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Summer Olympic Games

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Olympic Games record
Year Round Position Pld W L D Qualified
  2016 Quarterfinals 7th 6 3 3 0 Won the 2015 Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series
  2020 Did not qualify
  2024 Finals 1st 6 4 1 1 Host nation
Total Final 2/2 12 7 4 1
Olympic Games History
2016 Pool stage   France 31 – 14   Australia Win
Pool stage   France 0 – 26   South Africa Loss
Pool stage   France 26 – 5   Spain Win
Quarter-final   France 7 – 12   Japan Loss
5–8th place semi-final   France 19 – 24   New Zealand Loss
7th–8th place playoff   France 12 – 10   Australia Win
2024 Pool stage   France 12 – 12   United States Draw
Pool stage   France 19 – 12   Uruguay Win
Pool stage   France 12 – 19   Fiji Loss
Quarter-final   France 26 – 14   Argentina Win
Semi-final   France 19 – 5   South Africa Win
Final   France 28 – 7   Fiji Win

Rugby World Cup Sevens

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World Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
  1993 Bowl Semi-Finalists 15th 6 2 4 0
 1997 Quarterfinalsts 8th 5 4 1 0
  2001 Bowl Quarterfinalsts 21st 6 2 4 0
  2005 Quarterfinalists 5th 6 4 2 0
  2009 Plate Quarterfinals 13th 4 2 2 0
  2013 Quarterfinalists[1] 5th 4 2 1 1
  2018 Quarterfinals 8th 4 2 2 0
  2022 5th place final 6th 4 2 2 0
Total 0 Titles 8/8 35 18 16 1

Europe Grand Prix Series

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France has been successful in the Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix Series. They have won the tournament twice, in 2014 and 2015. They have also finished second on six occasions, most recently in 2016, and third once in 2012.

Grand Prix record
Finish Times Series
1st 2 2014, 2015
2nd 7 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019
3rd 1 2012
4th 3 2002, 2005, 2006
5th 2 2004, 2011
DNP 1 2008

Rugby X Tournament

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Rugby X Tournament
Year Round Pld W L D
  2019 Semi-finals 3 2 1 0

Players

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Current squad

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The following players have been selected to represent France during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 Dubai Sevens.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Jonathan Laugel Forward (1993-01-30) 30 January 1993 (age 31) 90 Unattached
Paul Leraitre Forward (2000-12-07) 7 December 2000 (age 24) 9 Racing 92
Rayan Rebbadj Forward (1999-08-15) 15 August 1999 (age 25) 13 Toulon
Paulin Riva (c) Forward (1994-04-20) 20 April 1994 (age 30) 41 Auch
Jordan Sepho Forward (1998-12-08) 8 December 1998 (age 26) 18 Unattached
Andy Timo Forward (2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 20) 4 Stade Français
Antoine Zeghdar Forward (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 25) 11 Castres
Théo Forner Back (2001-10-17) 17 October 2001 (age 23) 9 Perpignan
Aaron Grandidier Back (2000-05-18) 18 May 2000 (age 24) 14 Section Paloise
William Iraguha Back (1997-06-27) 27 June 1997 (age 27) 24 Unattached
Jefferson-Lee Joseph Back (2002-08-29) 29 August 2002 (age 22) 8 Agen
Stephen Parez Back (1994-08-01) 1 August 1994 (age 30) 70 Unattached
Varian Pasquet Back (1999-07-29) 29 July 1999 (age 25) 18 Unattached

Records and statistics

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Former squads

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Player records

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The following shows leading career France players based on performance in the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

Tries scored[2]
No. Player Tries
1 Terry Bouhraoua 131
2 Julien Candelon 114
3 Stephen Parez 105
4 Paul Albaladejo 86
5 Renaud Delmas 83

Award winners

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The following France Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:[3][4]

Honours

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World Rugby Sevens Series

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens
  2. ^ World Rugby website, current as of 15 March 2020
  3. ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Dupont adds Sevens Player of the Year to trophy cabinet". www.sixnationsrugby.com. 24 November 2024.
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