The French rugby union team played its first official test match in 1906, against New Zealand, and by 1910 they had integrated themselves into the Home Nations Championship, resulting in the inaugural Five Nations Championship - later the Six Nations. France first won the Championship in 1954, sharing the title with England, and have gone on to win it nearly 20 times since, making them one of the most successful sides in the competition's history. Despite this, there have been periods of inconsistency for the French team, and French rugby union has not always lived up to its potential on the international stage. Nonetheless, French test sides have always contained special players, and the team has always been associated with stylish, quick-thinking, skilful rugby - as well as a willingness to dole out a crunching tackle when required!
