French flyhalf Lionel Beauxis is hoping that his move from Stade Francais to French champions Toulouse will help him reclaim the No.10 jersey in the national team.

The 25-year-old made his international debut during the 2007 Six Nations and then became number one choice for the World Cup on home soil after injury to Frederic Michalak, playing a key role as France reached the semifinals.

He was himself injured in 2008 and although he recovered to reclaim his place in the 2009 Six Nations, he has not featured in Marc Lievremont's team since the 22-6 defeat in Australia that year.

In spite of some solid performances for Stade Francais, he was overlooked for the preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup.

"I will make every effort to be competitive soon," he told AFP.

"To get back into the national team is one of the goals but that will only come about if I am playing well for my club. I can only take one thing at a time if I want to have any hope of playing for France again."

Beauxis, who has spent the last five seasons in Paris, is also relishing a change of scenery, a return to his native south-west and a chance to play at the most successful club in the history of French rugby.

"When a team like Toulouse approach you, you don't spit on them; quite the contrary," he said, adding that he was eager to add to the club's bulging trophy cabinet.

"There's the European Cup in particular. You want to play in the tournament and especially win it. With a club like Toulouse, we want to grab everything. That is going to mean a lot of effort and sacrifice. We will be prepared."

Beauxis faces the added pressure of coming into a winning team to replace a long-term favourite -- the Toulouse-born David Skrela, who is in the preliminary squad for the World Cup and who has joined Clermont.

"I will take it bit by bit, try and make my mark and build my little nest," said Beauxis. "Many things are new here and in my position, it won't be easy."

The Tarbes-born Beauxis' departure from Paris coincided with the debt and ownership nightmare that threatened the very existence of Stade Francais and was only resolved last week by the 11th-hour intervention of new boss Thomas Savere, the director general of the technology company Oberthur.

"There is nothing really to say: what happened was outside rugby," said Beauxis. "I thought about all my friends. From one day to the next they didn't know if they had a club or not.

"But everything is back to normal and hopefully the club will get a fresh start."

AFP