25 Oct 2008

France promise to send top rugby side to Australia

6:25 am on 25 October 2008

The Australian rugby side has agreed to host France in a one-off Test next year after receiving an iron-clad guarantee that Les Bleus will field a full-strength line-up.

For this winter's two-Test series in Australia the French arrived with just one player who featured in their 2007 Rugby World Cup semi-final loss to England.

Most of France's frontline players were still involved in their domestic Top 14 competition but, after receiving an assurance that there will be no repeat of the mass no-show, ARU chief John O'Neill has agreed to add France to the 2009 program of home Tests for the Wallabies.