Paris, France – 17 February 2010 - In preparation for the FIL World Lacrosse Championships, July 10 to July 24 2010, in Manchester, England, l’Association Française de Lacrosse has selected a preliminary roster of 27 players for the games. The selection process lasts 6-months, winnowing the team to 23, the maximum allowed at the World Championships. An open tryout, held on December 19, 2009, kick-started the process under difficult conditions. The
field on the edge of Paris was frozen and snow-covered, but head coach Billy Tauzin III (San Antonio,TX) was able to evaluate the players and identify new talent for the team.The current squad counts 18 local French players and 9 playing regularly outside of France. This ratio allows the team to be competitive while ensuring the team’s solid local French identity.

In addition to the preliminary roster, an international coaching staff of 4 coaches and 1 manager have been selected for the games. Russ Atkinson (Malvern, PA), will cover the offensive & midfield, James Johnson (Reno, NV) defensive & goal, Hiroto Shimamura (Japan) attack, and Billy Tauzin III as head coach. Manchester local and long time friend of France Lacrosse, John Seb Smylie (UK/Ned) rounds out the staff as manager. The French national selection's first major test will take place on February 27 and 28, when they host Sweden's Sundbyberg Lacrosse Club at Paris's Stade Paul Faber in the 17th Arrondissement. The Swedish team counts numerous members from their national team, making it a rematch of sorts of France's first ever official international lacrosse game at the 2008 European Lacrosse Championships.
The game will allow the team to measure its progress over the past year and a half. The selection process continues with team clinics and additional international friendly matches through May; at that time, the final 23-man roster will be announced. Association Française de Lacrosse or France Lacrosse, founded in 2007, is a national association recognized by the European Lacrosse Federation and a full member of the Federation of International Lacrosse. It is the organizing body for developing the sport of lacrosse within France and selecting the participants representing France at officially sanctioned international competitions. Please find attached documents for more information on France Lacrosse and the 2010 World Cup
Team.

Click here to view France's Squad for the World Championships

Contact:
Hugh MacTruong
Association Française de Lacrosse
cm2010@france-lacrosse.fr
7, rue Maillard, 75011 Paris, FRANCE
Ph: +33 6 66 16 02 59