http://www.planet-rugby.com/rss/0,16039,3559,00.xmlFrance news from www.planet-rugby.comen-gbFri, 09 May 2008 16:52:47 GMTCopyright www.planet-rugby.com 2007http://www.planet-rugby.com/Images/96005.jpgPlanet RugbyDax loose forward Thomas Lièvremont has been named as the French club's coach starting next season. Lièvremont follows in the footsteps of older brother Marc, who gave up his role at Dax to take charge of the French national team. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3542427,00.html3559_3542427Fri, 09 May 2008 13:55:10 GMTRugby UnionFrance and Sharks fly-half Frédéric Michalak has lent his support to the new experimental law variations on trial in this year's Super 14."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3472652,00.html3559_3472652Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:48:37 GMTRugby UnionClermont are on the brink of setting a new Top 14 record while Dax and Albi face-off at the opposite end of the table."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3469604,00.html3559_3469604Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:17:06 GMTRugby UnionStade Français head coach Fabien Galthié confirmed at a press conference on Tuesday that he will step down from his role at the end of the season. His successor has not been named."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3461271,00.html3559_3461271Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:47:02 GMTRugby UnionBig spending French Pro D2 club RC Toulon have recruited former All Blacks centre Nathan Mauger as a medical joker. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3455475,00.html3559_3455475Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:12:39 GMTRugby UnionPieter de Villiers was a simple spectator in Paris on Saturday for Stade Français's victory over visiting Montauban. After 13 years with the Parisian club, the former French international prop explained his decision to retire."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3454995,00.html3559_3454995Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:57:26 GMTRugby UnionFrance star Vincent Clerc has been sidelined for up to nine months after rupturing ligaments in his left knee whilst on duty for Toulouse on Saturday."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3450443,00.html3559_3450443Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:19:01 GMTRugby UnionClermont and Brive were the big winners of Round 18 as Perpignan and Biarritz each scored bonus point victories to intensify the race for the semi-finals. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3447908,00.html3559_3447908Sat, 19 Apr 2008 22:55:30 GMTRugby UnionClermont racked up their ninth consecutive win on Saturday by beating rivals Toulouse 23-11 in a dark day for the hosts who lost Vincent Clerc to a knee injury. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3447105,00.html3559_3447105Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:55:10 GMTRugby UnionThe game all French rugby fans have been waiting for is upon us at last. Toulouse host Clermont on Saturday in a battle for the leadership of the Top 14."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3441018,00.html3559_3441018Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:24:12 GMTRugby UnionFrench international prop Pieter De Villiers has announced his retirement from all rugby."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3439182,00.html3559_3439182Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:50:18 GMTRugby UnionToulouse host Clermont on Saturday in potentially the most attractive game of the Top 14 season while Brive, Albi and Dax are engaged in a three-way battle to avoid relegation. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3435884,00.html3559_3435884Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:36:45 GMTRugby UnionThe 2009 Six Nations Championship fixtures have been released, and England will play host to Italy in the opening game at Twickenham."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3435412,00.html3559_3435412Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:36:18 GMTRugby UnionToulouse face the unenviable task of playing the Top 14 leaders just one week ahead of their Heineken cup semi-final against London Irish. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3431868,00.html3559_3431868Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:31:53 GMTRugby UnionToulon manager Tana Umaga joined a list of nine Pro D2 players to be suspended for fighting by the French Rugby Federation over the weekend while two other players were banned for three months for smoking cannabis."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3421471,00.html3559_3421471Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:13:13 GMTRugby UnionClermont claimed the outright leadership of the Top 14 for the first time this season. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3416411,00.html3559_3416411Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:02:34 GMTRugby UnionFor the first time this season Clermont Auvergne start the weekend as leaders of the Top 14, and deservedly so. "http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3411465,00.html3559_3411465Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:55:33 GMTRugby UnionStade Français have extended the contracts of French internationals Sylvain Marconnet, Dimitri Szarzewski and Lionel Beauxis as well as Argentinean prop Rodrigo Roncero."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3408327,00.html3559_3408327Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:11:41 GMTRugby UnionThe headline grabber of the weekend is the Basque derby between Biarritz and Bayonne."http://www.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,18259,3559_3408174,00.html3559_3408174Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:07:54 GMTRugby Union