France is one of the strongest rugby nations in Europe and is currently the highest ranked. Rugby was introduced to France in 1872 by the British, and on New Year's Day 1906 the national side played its first Test match against New Zealand in Paris.
France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form a Five Nations tournament in 1910. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s.
France came of age during the 1950s and 1960s, and won their first Five Nations title outright in 1959. They won their first Grand Slam in 1968.
Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, being founded in 1873.
Scottish Football Union was founded on Monday 3rd March 1873 at a meeting held at Glasgow Academy, Elmbank Stret, Glasgow. The SFU was a founding member of the International Rugby Board in 1886 with Ireland and Wales.
In 1924 the SFU changed its name to become the Scottish Rugby Union. International games were played at Inverleith from 1899 to 1925 when Murrayfield was opened.
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Italian Rugby really came to prominence in 2000 when it was added to the Five Nations, creating the Six Nations. Originally on the end of some heavy defeats, the side has grown in competitiveness, recorded a fourth place finish in 2007, and even in defeat, lop-sided losses are becoming far less frequent. Italy is ranked eleventh in the world by the IRB as of 21 June 2010.
Italy has also competed at every Rugby World Cup since the first tournament in 1987, but has to progress beyond the first round. Their best showing thus far has been in 2003 and 2007 where they managed two wins during the pool stages.
Ireland Rugby epresents the island of Ireland in rugby union and competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they have been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions (1999 and 2007). Ireland is also one of the four unions which make up the British and Irish Lions - players eligible to play for Ireland are also eligible for the Lions.
The Six Nations Championship held every year in February and March is Ireland's only annual tournament. It is contested against England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Ireland was a member of the inaugural Home Nations in 1883 with France and Italy joining later to form the Five and Six Nations respectively. Ireland won their first championship in 1894, winning the Triple Crown also. Ireland's first Grand Slam occurred in the 1948 season and their second in the 2009 season. In total Ireland have been champions on eleven occasions.
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England head coach Steve McNamara paid tribute to Luke Robinson and Stuart Fielden after they agreed to make personal sacrifices for their country.
Uncapped Huddersfield scrum-half Robinson opted to postpone his wedding in Cyprus after being called into McNamara's 24-man squad for the Four Nations trip to New Zealand and Australia.
"They are both making decisions in terms of their overall lives and I couldn't be more pleased," McNamara said. "I've been delighted by their form.
"Stuart has got a huge desire to get back into the England set-up and perform well. He is going to be leaving his first child a day or two after the birth and so it's a huge commitment but he never flinched.
"The door was never shut if he applied himself and did the right things. He's had some dark days but his form has been very consistent throughout this season.
"He has certainly got some points to prove but his enthusiasm and desire to play for England is the thing that really stands out."
Robinson, one of seven uncapped players in the squad, who will also miss his stag party to be with England, never gave up hope of making the Four Nations squad and did not hesitate to put off his wedding plans.
"I feel I've played consistently all year and it was at the back of my mind that I might get picked," he said.
"My mother-in-law kept saying to me your wedding is going ahead at the same time as the trip but me and my partner said we'd cross that bridge when we come to it.
Robinson is one of six players from Huddersfield, who have the biggest representation in a squad which will be led by Warrington prop Adrian Morley.
"It's a great achievement for the club and shows the way the club has been going over the past two seasons," he said.
Robinson will be joined on Friday's flight by half-back partner Kevin Brown, uncapped duo Shaun Lunt and Leroy Cudjoe and front-row forwards Darrell Griffin and Eorl Crabtree.
Huddersfield chairman Ken Davy said: "It is a fantastic day for us without doubt. We often talk about the year-on-year progression that the Giants are making and this is absolutely concrete evidence of that fact.
The club representation in McNamara's squad makes fascinating comparison with the 2008 World Cup touring party. Leeds and St Helens had 15 players on that trip but this time can boast just three.
Leeds' only selection is winger Ryan Hall after captain Kevin Sinfield was ruled out with an Achilles tendon injury that requires surgery, joining Jamie Peacock and Danny McGuire on the sidelines.
Among the notable players omitted from the train-on squad were Hull KR winger Peter Fox and Warrington scrum-half Richie Myler, who failed to press their claims in Sunday's 18-18 draw with Cumbria in Whitehaven.
Morley, who has twice stepped in as captain in Peacock's absence, said: "It feels absolutely incredible.I've been lucky to captain Great Britain and England in one-off games but to lead a touring side is fantastic. It will be the highlight of my career without a doubt."
"I'm excited about the blend and mix we've got available," said McNamara. "I can't wait for the tournament to start. We've going across to have one of the best five weeks of our lives and hopefully come back successful."
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The Six Nations also called RBS 6 Nations is the oldest annual international rugby union competition which was start from 1882 when four United Kingdom countries England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland played and then France joined in 1910 and Italy joined in 2000.
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France played sporadically against the Home Nations until they joined them to form a Five Nations tournament in 1910. France also competed in the rugby competitions at early Summer Olympics, winning the gold medal in 1900 and two silver medals in the 1920s.
