Maso: Ibanez was easy choice

Jo Maso says it was an 'easy' decision name Raphael Ibanez as captain.

France team manager Jo Maso has declared that it was an "easy" decision to hand Raphael Ibanez the captain's armband ahead of the World Cup.

The Wasps hooker will replace Fabien Pelous as skipper of Les Blues in September's World Cup after Maso made the call to name a new captain on Monday.

Pelous has been France's on-field leader since 2004, but the Toulouse lock has suffered badly with injuries in recent years and this prompted Maso's re-shuffle.

"We spoke to them a lot on the telephone," said Maso.

"We discussed the problem with each player, calmly, logically and intelligently.

"There weren't any concerns, it has all been clear, clean and precise.

"And it was easy to sort out because these great players are great friends."

It will be the second time Ibanez has led France in a World Cup, after captaining the side to a final defeat against Australia in the 1999, and the 34-year-old is looking forward to returning to the role.

Ibanez said: "It is an immense honour and an immense responsibility, and I am desperate to dedicate myself fully to this great team."

In the absence of the injured Pelous, Ibanez also skippered France in their 2007 defence of the RBS Six Nations Championship.