Six Heineken Cup competitors have been named in the prestigious L'Eqiupe Team of the Year, including Heineken Cup winning captain Lawrence Dallaglio.
The Wasps star, who retired from Test rugby earlier in the year, is the only English player to make the XV. He is joined in the pack by fellow Heineken Cup finalist, William Servat of Toulouse, who is joined in the front row by Stade Francais' Sylvain Marconnet.
Ireland have three representatives in the World XV. Munster pair Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara, and many peoples choice for World Player of the Year, Brian O'Driscoll.
These players will return to Heineken Cup action in just two weeks when the premier club competition in the World returns for the final two rounds of the Pool Stage.
L'Equipe Team of the Year:
Mils Muliaina (NZ); Joe Rokocoko (NZ), Brian O'Driscoll (Ire), Matt Giteau (Aus), Lote Tuqiri (Aus); Ronan O'Gara (Ire), George Gregan (Aus); Os du Randt (SA), William Servat (Fra), Sylvain Marconnet (Fra), Victor Matfield (SA), Paul O'Connell (Ire), Schalk Burger (SA), George Smith (Aus), Lawrence Dallaglio (Eng).