French sports are just as important as any other parts of its culture. People share a strong interest for sports in France. The french have a lot to brag about when it comes to sports and a lot of history too. Here are today's popular french sports.

1. Football (Soccer) - Not only is football the biggest sport in France, it's the most popular sport in the whole world. People usually don't think that at first because it is not as popular in America yet. France's football team, governed by the French Football Federation (or FFF), played at the world cup in 2006 and won the cup in 1998 while hosting the event. There is a lot of controversy around France's football team. You may recall that during a 2006 World Cup match, player Zinedine Zidane head butted Italian player Marco Materazzi in the chest after the two exchanged a few words. Zidane has since retired but is still well-known.                                                                                                

   French Football Federation logo

    

Tennis - Tennis is very popular in France. Every spring they host the French Open or Roland Garros which is one of the most wanted titles like Wimbledon. Tennis is as popular in France as baseball is in America. Yea, its a big deal.

Rugby football was introduced into France by the British in the early 1870s. The French rugby clubs remained in with the English Rugby Football Union and IRB when rugby split into rugby union and rugby league in 1895.

Reports of professionalism and on-field violence in internationals angered the Rugby Football Union and in 1931, France was ejected from the Five Nations Championship.

On 6 April 1934 the french rugby league championship was founded and the sport quickly drew in attention and interest. Within five years, the number of rugby league clubs in France approached the number of rugby union clubs (despite union's fifty year headstart). By 1939 there were around 450 rugby league clubs in France, including amateur teams and 13 semi-professional rugby league clubs. (Brandon Angers)

Rugby Ball