France

Irish hooker Jerry Flannery has received a six week ban for kicking France’s Alexis Palisson in last Saturday’s match.

The ban means the Munster player will miss the rest of the Six Nations tournament.

Flannery received the ban after attending an independent disciplinary hearing in Dublin on Wednesday.

During Saturday’s match, referee Wayne Barnes only awarded a penalty following the incident. Touch judge Stuart Terheege believed the challenge to be a shoulder charge, allowing the hooker to escape a red card.

The French government has refused citizenship to a foreign national who forced his wife to wear the Islamic veil.

French Immigration Minister Eric Besson signed a decree rejecting a man's citizenship application after it emerged that he had ordered his wife to cover herself with a head-to-toe veil.

Laurent Chambon interview

Laurent Chambon interview

President Nicolas Sarkozy has formally announced plans to take France back as a full member of NATO.

French reintegration into NATO’s military structure has been a gradual process. France is currently the fourth largest contributor of troops.

Sarkozy’s main task is to convince the public. He faces resistance from the opposition and from the members of his own party.

A notable opponent is his rival Dominique de Villepin, the former prime minister.