The lustre may be rubbing off England's crown of world egg-chucking champions rather too rapidly for Sir Clive Woodward's liking, but at least those of us based south of the border can still enjoy the wooden spoon status of Scotland.

There was better news for the Scots, however, in the recent performance of the Law Society of Scotland's team against the Paris Bar Association.

The team 'battled against terrible winds...

which made it hard to stand up' - a terrible slur on the opposition's eating habits.

Anyway, the Scots lawyers achieved a commendable 5-5 draw, providing a certain compensation for the 31-0 thrashing handed out by Les Bleus to the national side on the same weekend.

The success of the challenge matches means that the French are planning to stage a legal Rugby World Cup in 2007 to coincide with their hosting of the main event - let's hope they change their diet beforehand.

Teams from Ireland, Australia, Italy and England, as well as France and Scotland, have been lined up to play.

Rumours that a certain J Wilkinson is looking for a training contract sadly seem unfounded.

Pictured are Scotland's captain and scrum-half, Semple Fraser lawyer Douglas Roberts, and Jean-Christophe Maymat, captain and flanker of the Paris Bar team.

This article refers to images that appear in the printed edition [2004] Gazette, 1 April, page 14