1.   French rugby union captain Jean-Francois Tordo has been forced out of the tour of South Africa with a severe facial injury.

2.   Pierre Berbizier was fired from his job as French rugby team coach Tuesday less than three months after guiding France to a third place in the World Cup.

3.   But the French rugby union team will almost certainly set some kind of scoring record when they host Ireland in the Five Nations championship Saturday.

4.   Center Pierre Chamorin will make his first appearance on the French rugby league tour of New Zealand against North Harbour in Auckland on Tuesday.

5.   Chirac, Jospin and Seguin capped the eve of election day by attending the French rugby union championship.

6.   French rugby officials said Thursday they would leave it to the referee to decide what protection South African fullback Andre Joubert could wear on his injured hand.

7.   Former French rugby union captain Philippe Saint-Andre Tuesday joined English club Gloucester on a two-year contract.

8.   French rugby union will not go professional, the French Rugby Federation said Wednesday.

9.   French rugby was in turmoil Friday on the eve of the test match against the New Zealand All Blacks.

10.   He was represented by French coach Jean-Claude Skrela and Guy Laporte, vice president of the French rugby federation.