France

France- Te Peehi

I chose France because I am going to Paris and Rome for Christmas this year and thought it would be good to find out some information before I went.




 * Paris is the capital city of France**


 * Population: 65312249 (July //2011// est.)**


 * The official language spoken in France is French**


 * Geography**

France is the second largest country in Europe, with the fifth largest population in Europe. Most of France is mountains and hills with alps and ranges.

The coast of France is called the Mediterranean and is popular for its beaches.


 * Economy - Trade**

France's trade is one of the largest in the world. France exports and imports various raw materials, automobiles and electronic products. The country ranks sixth in the world in terms of export volumes and fifth when it comes to imports.


 * Economy - Exports**

In 2010 France's exports totalled $456.8 billion including:


 * machinery and transportation equipment and aircraft
 * plastics, chemicals and pharmaceutical products
 * iron and steel
 * beverages


 * Economy - Imports**

France’s imports totaled up to $532.2 billion in 2010 declining from $692 billion in 2008. France main import commodities are:


 * Machinery and equipment
 * Vehicles and Aircraft
 * Crude oil
 * Plastics and Chemicals


 * Education in France**

France is renowned for having one of the world’s best education systems, which most people attribute to the high standards expected. Mandatory schooling starts at six and goes on until at least sixteen. The days are generally slightly longer in French state schools, there is often one day off a week (although you usually have to go in on Saturday mornings). School generally starts at 8.30 a.m. Lessons go on until 11.30, with a short morning break (“la récré”). The lunch break usually lasts 2 hours. Pupils either go home for lunch or eat in the school canteen with their classmates. Lessons begin again at 1.30 p.m. and continue until 4.30 p.m. (with an afternoon “récré”), when pupils either go home to do their homework, or attend a homework class supervised by a teacher who can if necessary give them some help.

Ecole Maternelle - for ages 2-5

Ecole Primaire - for ages 6-11

Collège - for ages 12-15/16

Lycée - for ages 16-18

University then follows


 * 2011 - 2012**

Return to school - 5 Sep 2011

Saints holidays - 22 Oct to 2 Nov 2011

Christmas holidays - 17 Dec 2011 to 2 Jan 2012

Winter holidays - 11 Feb to 26 Feb 2012

Spring holidays - 7 Apr to 22 Apr 2012

Summer holidays - 5 Jul to 3 Sep 2012

The 2011 French Rugby Team

 * **Player** ||  **Position**  ||  **Date of Birth (Age)**  ||  **Caps**  ||  **Club/province**  ||


 * [|Guilhem Guirado] || [|Hooker] || 17 June 1986 (1986-06-17) (age 25) || 14 || [|Perpignan] ||
 * [|William Servat] || [|Hooker] || 9 February 1978 (1978-02-09) (age 33) || 37 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Dimitri Szarzewski] || [|Hooker] || 26 January 1983 (1983-01-26) (age 28) || 50 || [|Stade Français] ||
 * [|Fabien Barcella] || [|Prop] || 27 October 1983 (1983-10-27) (age 27) || 13 || [|Biarritz] ||
 * [|Luc Ducalcon] || [|Prop] || 2 January 1984 (1984-01-02) (age 27) || 7 || [|Castres] ||
 * [|Nicolas Mas] || [|Prop] || 23 May 1980 (1980-05-23) (age 31) || 45 || [|Perpignan] ||
 * [|Jean-Baptiste Poux] || [|Prop] || 26 September 1979 (1979-09-26) (age 31) || 30 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Romain Millo-Chluski] || [|Lock] || 20 April 1983 (1983-04-20) (age 28) || 17 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Lionel Nallet] || [|Lock] || 14 September 1976 (1976-09-14) (age 35) || 64 || [|Racing Métro] ||
 * [|Pascal Papé] || [|Lock] || 5 October 1980 (1980-10-05) (age 30) || 28 || [|Stade Français] ||
 * [|Julien Pierre] || [|Lock] || 31 July 1981 (1981-07-31) (age 30) || 19 || [|Clermont] ||
 * [|Julien Bonnaire] || [|Flanker] || 20 September 1978 (1978-09-20) (age 32) || 63 || [|Clermont] ||
 * [|Thierry Dusautoir] [|(c)] || [|Flanker] || 18 November 1981 (1981-11-18) (age 29) || 43 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Imanol Harinordoquy] || [|Flanker] || 20 February 1980 (1980-02-20) (age 31) || 70 || [|Biarritz] ||
 * [|Fulgence Ouedraogo] || [|Flanker] || 21 July 1986 (1986-07-21) (age 25) || 23 || [|Montpellier] ||
 * [|Raphaël Lakafia] || [|Number 8] || 28 October 1988 (1988-10-28) (age 22) || 1 || [|Biarritz] ||
 * [|Louis Picamoles] || [|Number 8] || 5 February 1986 (1986-02-05) (age 25) || 18 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Morgan Parra] || [|Scrum-half] || 15 November 1988 (1988-11-15) (age 22) || 29 || [|Clermont] ||
 * [|Dimitri Yachvili] || [|Scrum-half] || 19 September 1980 (1980-09-19) (age 30) || 52 || [|Biarritz] ||
 * [|Jean-Marc Doussain] || [|Fly-half] || 12 February 1991 (1991-02-12) (age 20) || 0 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|David Skrela] || [|Fly-half] || 2 March 1979 (1979-03-02) (age 32) || 22 || [|Clermont] ||
 * [|François Trinh-Duc] || [|Fly-half] || 11 November 1986 (1986-11-11) (age 24) || 29 || [|Montpellier] ||
 * [|Fabrice Estebanez] || [|Centre] || 26 December 1981 (1981-12-26) (age 29) || 5 || [|Racing Métro] ||
 * [|David Marty] || [|Centre] || 30 October 1982 (1982-10-30) (age 28) || 34 || [|Perpignan] ||
 * [|Maxime Mermoz] || [|Centre] || 28 July 1986 (1986-07-28) (age 25) || 9 || [|Perpignan] ||
 * [|Aurélien Rougerie] || [|Centre] || 26 September 1980 (1980-09-26) (age 30) || 64 || [|Clermont] ||
 * [|Vincent Clerc] || [|Wing] || 7 May 1981 (1981-05-07) (age 30) || 50 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Maxime Médard] || [|Wing] || 16 November 1986 (1986-11-16) (age 24) || 21 || [|Toulouse] ||
 * [|Alexis Palisson] || [|Wing] || 9 September 1987 (1987-09-09) (age 24) || 16 || [|Toulon] ||
 * [|Cédric Heymans] || [|Fullback] || 20 July 1978 (1978-07-20) (age 33) || 55 || [|Bayonne] ||
 * [|Damien Traille] || [|Fullback] || 12 June 1979 (1979-06-12) (age 32) || 83 || [|Biarritz] ||



This is the jersey that France will wear in the rugby world cup 2011. France is ranked 5th in the world. Marc Lievermont is the current coach of the French team and has been their coach since 2007.