<P> In the sport of rugby union there is a rivalry between England and France . Both countries compete in the Six Nations Championship and the Rugby World Cup . England have the edge in both tournaments having the most outright wins in the Six Nations (and its previous version the Five Nations), and most recently knocking the French sides out of the 2003 and 2007 World Cups at the semifinal stage and France knocked England out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a convincing score in their quarter final match . Though rugby is originally a British sport, French rugby has developed to such an extent that the English and French teams are now stiff competitors, with neither side greatly superior to the other . </P> <P> The influence of French players and coaches on British football has been increasing in recent years and is often cited as an example of Anglo - French cooperation . In particular the Premier League club Arsenal has become known for its Anglo - French connection due to a heavy influx of French players since the advent of French manager Arsène Wenger in 1996 . In March 2008 their Emirates stadium was chosen as the venue for a meeting during a state visit by the French President precisely for this reason . </P> <P> Many people blamed the then French President Jacques Chirac for contributing to Paris' loss to London in its bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics after he made deregatory remarks about British cuisine and saying that "only Finnish food is worse". The IOC committee which would ultimately decide to give the games to London had two members from Finland . </P> <P> The busiest seaway in the world, the English Channel, connects ports in Great Britain such as Dover, Newhaven, Poole, Weymouth, Portsmouth and Plymouth to ports such as Roscoff, Calais, Boulogne, Dunkerque, Dieppe, Cherbourg - Octeville, Caen, St Malo and Le Havre in mainland France . Companies such as Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries, DFDS Seaways and LD Lines operate ferry services across the Channel . </P>

Is there a time difference between france and england