Englishman Richard Agar has been appointed head coach of the France rugby league team and will guide them through the 2013 World Cup, set to be hosted in England, Wales and France.

The 41-year-old, who retains his full-time job as coach of the Super League club Wakefield, was unveiled at a press conference here on Monday as the man to take over from Frenchman Aurelien Cologni.

France have set themselves a target of coming through the group phase and open their World Cup campaign on October 27 with a match against Papua New Guinea before further tests against New Zealand and Samoa.

“I’m very proud and very honoured to be offered the position to be a head coach of a national team,” he said.

“It was a little bit of a surprise.

“I got the phone call about a month ago and it was very kind of the club as both (Wakefield chairman) Andrew (Glover) and (chief executive) James (Elston) gave me their blessing to go and meet the French people to look at the levels of commitment and when I’d be required to be over there.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and an opportunity I want to take and be very proud to take. I think it’s a great time to be involved with them.”