CountriesFRA
France: Rebuilding Under Pressure
A young but fast-growing scene. From the first club, Spartiates de Lille in 2006, French lacrosse now counts 12 active clubs and a national team competing at European level.
FTL insight
France enters the next European cycle rebuilding — and cannot afford another unstable phase.
A new generation is emerging, but results must follow quickly.
Lacrosse in France
The French lacrosse story begins in 2006, when François Labbé — originally from Cherbourg — discovered the sport at a Décathlon sports fair presented by the European Lacrosse Federation. He then founded the Spartiates Lille Lacrosse, the first club in France. Paris Lacrosse was created simultaneously in Île-de-France.
In January 2008, the Association Française de Lacrosse (AFL) was founded, with Labbé as first president. That same year, the French national team competed in their first international match at the European Championships in Lahti, Finland — beating Italy 7-4.
France has participated in every European Championship and World Cup since 2008. The AFL manages Field, Sixes, and Box national teams, and operates a unique “Heritage” team created in 2024 for French players competing abroad (more than half of French players play in other countries).
In 2024, the French championship was relaunched after several years of interruption, with Paul Maître succeeding François Labbé as AFL president in March 2024.
Follow the Rebuild2006
The Discovery
François Labbé discovers lacrosse at the Vital’Sport fair at Décathlon, presented by the ELF.
2006
First clubs
Spartiates Lille Lacrosse and Paris Lacrosse are founded — the first clubs in France.
2008
AFL & National Team
The Association Française de Lacrosse is founded. First international match: a 7–4 win against Italy in Finland.
2013
First Championship
Lille/Valenciennes wins the first French Championship in history. 7 clubs in France at that point.
2024
Renewal
The championship is relaunched. Paul Maître becomes AFL president. The “Héritage” team is created for French players based abroad.
2026
12 clubs
France currently has 12 active clubs, from the oldest (Lille, founded 2006) to the newest (Nantes, Bourges and Troyes, founded 2026).
French Clubs
12 active clubs across France, from north to south. The AFL also manages national teams in Field, Sixes and Box.
Spartiates Lille Lacrosse
Lille — founded in 2006
FieldParis Lacrosse
Paris, Île-de-France
FieldMariners de Bordeaux
Saint-Médard-en-Jalles
FieldASPTT Orléans Lacrosse
Châteauneuf-sur-Loire
FieldToulouse Lacrosse
Toulouse
FieldLyon Lacrosse
Lyon
FieldGrenoble Lacrosse
Grenoble
FieldAngers Lacrosse
Angers
FieldPau Lacrosse
Pau — founded in 2025
FieldNantes
Founded in 2026
Bourges
Founded in 2026
Troyes
Founded in 2026
National Teams
Field Lacrosse
Les Gaulois (Men)
Present at every European Championship and World Cup since 2008. First international win: Italy 7–4 (2008, Finland).
Women’s Field
Les Gauloises (Women)
Active development programme. Selections open via francelacrosse.org.
Sixes & Box
Heritage Team
Created in 2024 for French players based abroad — more than half of all French lacrosse players compete outside France.
2026 results
European Box Championships, men
18th of 18. Green group: beat Portugal 11–10; lost to Switzerland 9–14, Slovakia 12–16 and Scotland 4–19. Then: lost to Norway 9–18 (play-in), lost to Wales 8–9 (placement round) and lost to Portugal 12–14 (17th-place game). Ireland won the title, beating Finland 9–6 in the final.
Source: EBLC 2026 men’s schedule
European Sixes Championships, women
12th of 18. Pool A: beat Portugal 15–7; lost to Poland 9–20, Latvia 6–14 and Israel 6–32. Then: beat Norway 18–13 (placement round), lost to Sweden 11–16 (placement round) and lost to Switzerland 4–7 (11th-place game).
Source: World Lacrosse results
European Sixes Championships, men
Pool C, with Austria, Croatia, Ireland, Israel and Norway. First game on 10 November against Norway.
Source: World Lacrosse schedule
Why Follow the French Scene?
A sport built from zero
One club in 2006. Twelve clubs by 2026. The French scene is one of the clearest examples of what grassroots lacrosse development actually looks like — volunteer-led, geographically dispersed, and built to last.
The Héritage Team
More than half of French lacrosse players play outside France. The 2024 création of the "Héritage" team — for French players based abroad — is a fascinating model of diaspora sport organisation worth watching closely.
Three formats, one federation
The AFL manages Field, Sixes, and Box national teams simultaneously — a rare feat for a scene this young. With the 2028 Olympics approaching, France’s Sixes programme could accelerate fast.
Explore Related Scenes
Other national scenes connected to France lacrosse by format, geography or history.
Ftl Tournaments
Help Us Cover France
- Send a story tip
Spotted something happening? Score, result, transfer, incident — send it our way.
- Suggest a tournament
Know of an upcoming event that should be on the FTL calendar?
- Recommend an interview
Who should we talk to? Player, coach, referee, organiser?
- Correct this page
Something wrong or missing? We review every submission.
The European Lacrosse Briefing
One email every Friday that follows the continent for you, so you know what moved beyond your own league.
- Country movesWhat changed in the country files: federations, national teams, tiers.
- Results and fixturesThe week’s results, and the championships and league rounds coming up.
- Worth readingThe FTL stories and interviews you should not miss.