Guilhem Guirado handed France captaincy

Toulon hooker Guilhem Guirado has been confirmed as the new France captain.

Guirado had been hotly tipped to take the armband from Thierry Dusautoir, who retired from international rugby following the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

And new France head coach Guy Noves confirmed that Guirado - who has 38 caps for his country since making his debut in 2008 - will be the country's new skipper.

"I made it official," he told L'Equipe. "He is the right person at the right time.

"I discussed it with him on Sunday. I also discussed it with Yannick [Bru, France's forwards coach]."

Noves took over as head coach following the World Cup after Philippe Saint-Andre resigned from the role.