PARIS: Toulon coach Bernard Laporte, the only candidate for the French Rugby Federation (FFR) presidency next year, has called for the Top 14 championship to be cut down to 12 in order to help the national team.

The former France coach, who won four Six Nations titles between 2002 and 2007, suggested that move would free up six weeks to prepare the national players. His call comes in the wake of a 55-35 defeat to England in the Six Nations on Saturday. France finished fourth in this year's competition and have not won the tournament since 2010.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2015