New faces to lift French profile
FRANCE have named a largely unknown squad for the Hong Kong Sevens.
Captain Didier Faugeron is the only player who has represented France at international level as they go for a specialist sevens side for the March 26 and 27 tournament, sponsored by Cathay Pacific and Hongkong Bank, at the Hong Kong Stadium.
France, like many Northern Hemisphere countries, have yet to wholeheartedly embrace sevens but are still favourites to win Pool F, which also features two-time Bowl winners Romania and Papua New Guinea.
A significant feature of the French team is that no two players are from the same club.
France made their debut in the tournament in 1991 when they were captained by international centre Franck Mesnel.
They reached the quarter-finals of the main competition thanks to a narrow 4-0 win over Hong Kong.
Veteran centre Philippe Sella captained the side when they played in 1992.
France have yet to progress past the quarter-final stage of the main competition.
France: Michel Courtiols (Bordeaux), Said Filali (Merignac), Dominique Dal Pos (Colomiers), Willy Taofifenua (Grenoble), Jean Charles Laran (Tarbais), Pierre Bondouy (Narbonne), Francois Preux (Paloise), Didier Faugeron (Brive), Christophe Lamaison (Bayonnais), Olivier Campan (Agen).
