made history as both sides won the League Leaders' Shield for the Super League and Championship respectively. This marked the first time that a French side had won either division. Toulouse later went on to win the Million Pound Game, thus gaining promotion to the Super League. Toulouse were relegated in 2022. Teams that have played in RFL leagues are summarised below: Popularity Rugby league is most popular in the south of France. The game struggles for attention in the national media, but it is covered by regional outlets in the south. However, the introduction of Catalans Dragons into Super League in 2006 and Toulouse Olympique into RFL Championship in 2009 has seen increased coverage with articles appearing in national newspapers such as L'Équipe, Libération and Le Figaro. It has also contributed to the rise in playing numbers to the current number of approximately 30,000. The Men's national team Locally, the French national rugby league team are often nicknamed les Bleus, after the colour of their home jersey or as les Tricolores. They have competed in every World Cup and Rugby League European Cup, as well as playing in other tournaments such as the Victory Cup. In 2009, it was announced that France would enter the Tri-Nations tournament as a fourth team (necessitating its renaming to the Rugby League Four Nations), playing alongside Australia, New Zealand and England. The introduction of Catalans Dragons into the Super League and recent strong performances from the international side led to this decision. Until the tournament's suspension in 2017, the winner of the Rugby League European Cup qualified as the fourth team when the competition was held in the northern hemisphere and the winner of the Pacific Cup was the fourth team when it was held in the southern hemisphere. 2009 remains the only year France has played in this tournament. The French territory of New Caledonia had its own rugby league team from 2003 to 2006, which was run by the Fédération Francaise de Rugby à Treize. The Women's national team The France women's national rugby league team, also known as the Chanticleers ( for the Anglophone media) or locally as Les Tricolores, represents France in Women's rugby league. They are administered by the French Rugby League Federation. Media Television Unlike, for instance, the BBC, France Television don't offer any program to the French public about Rugby League. This has been a real