Francois Ratier, who led the Canadian women to the Rugby World Cup final in 2014, has been named coach of the French women's team.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said Ratier's appointment is effective as of January. His first game in charge of the fourth-ranked French women will be their April 11 Six Nations Championship home opener against Italy.

Ratier, who coached the Canadian women from 2013 to 2017, has served as coach of Bordeaux in the French women's league most recently.

Born and raised in La Rochefoucauld, a small town in southwest France where his father was a mason and his mother a factory worker, Ratier played his club rugby on the wing for SC Angoulême. When injuries cut his career short, he turned to coaching and looked for a fresh start.

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