Suits you sir

It's what England rugby fans have been waiting for...for the England rugby team to discover a little bit of French flair.

While we continue to wait for it to materialise on the pitch, the RFU this week announced a commercial deal with French fashion brand Eden Park at London’s swanky Kensington Roof Gardens, a contract which sees  all of England’s squads from under-18 level upwards kitted out in bespoke formalwear designed to make them look like the mutt's nuts.

It was interesting to see that Ugo Monye was chosen to model the outfits. I suspect that being available and local were the main criteria.

The brand was launched in 1987 by Racing Club de France players Franck Mesnel, Jean-Baptiste Lafond, Eric Blanc, Yvon Rousset and Philippe Guillard who all regularly used to wear berets and pink bow-ties during matches. Known as "Le Showbizz," they also used to, on occasion, sip champagne on the field at half-time. Perhaps this is the vital ingredient the English backline has been missing?