French women’s rugby is on a high after the Six Nations Grand Slam was secured last month and this weekend in Guangzhou, the Sevens team will be hoping to build on that momentum in the penultimate round of the 2013/14 IRB Women’s Sevens World Series.

The Grand Slam was France’s first Six Nations title since 2005 and augurs well for later in the year when they host Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 in Paris. Three members of that squad are now in China with the Sevens team in Marjorie Mayans, Koumiba Djossouvi and Camille Grassineau.

“It was first of all an immense joy to win the Six Nations tournament with the Grand Slam,” admitted Grassineau. “This competition is very important in Europe and it augurs especially well for the end of the season. It was also a great satisfaction after many years of training.

“It is very good psychologically and for confidence for us to have been major European nations at Fifteens and to finally win something … perhaps it is the start for us to acquire a winning culture.

“It is always difficult to answer the question of whether the Grand Slam success can be a catalyst for the Sevens team, we will know the answer when we look at our results after the forthcoming tournaments!

“This result offered visibility and coverage for the Women’s Game in France and if we get good results in Sevens it will be the same thing. Only good results will make us progress but for a catalyst, we count in the immediate future on our preparations to have the best performance possible.”

France Sevens coach David Courteix agrees that the Grand Slam success is “excellent news for the whole of French rugby and particularly the women’s Game”, but is also conscious that the Sevens team must develop their own culture and history.

“I am certain the players in Guangzhou that took part in this adventure will have at heart to use this success at the highest level and this experience gained during the competition and training in Fifteens to their benefit,” he said.

Realising what is achievable

“If our Fifteens’ culture is a true advantage, now that we are looking at the Olympic challenge it is also essential that our Sevens culture is reinforced and that our Sevens team writes their own history by getting significant success and results.

“So, to summarise, I would say that the impact of this victory can only be positive but not overly decisive – we must get there and achieve success on the pitch (in Sevens).”

One area Courteix does hope the success rubs off on his players is when it comes to belief. 

“I had no doubt about the potential or the motivation or the hunger of the players to win Sevens competitions before this Grand Slam and I have to admit I am still convinced this is the case.

“I think nevertheless that this result can make them realise their potential and convince them a little more that the ambitions that they have and that we share with them are achievable.”

France return to the World Series this weekend for the first time since the opening round in Dubai, where they finished 10th after narrowly losing to Fiji in the Bowl final, with Mayans admitting they are targeting an appearance in the Cup knockout stages.

“This pool is very tough, we know it and we have great respect for our three opponents (Canada, USA and Russia). They are three teams at the top of the IRB rankings with a very physical game but they are also three teams against which we have had great performances in the past. 

“The Series is a very competitive event but we wish to perform and finish well.”