French warship gifts baguettes to Royal Navy crew to say 'sorry' for Six Nations thrashing

A French warship sent consolation baguettes to the crew of the Royal Navy's HMS Tamar after the French rugby team humiliated England at Twickenham last week.

And the crew of the offshore patrol vessel Tamar, which is currently operating in the Indian Ocean with her French counterparts, took the gentle ribbing well, tweeting a 'thanks' message back, congratulating the French rugby team on their win over England.

The French warship then went one step further, by displaying a huge bedsheet with 'SORRY GOOD GAME' written on it, as it sailed alongside HMS Tamar.

• What is an offshore patrol vessel?
• HMS Tamar: What's it like on board the Navy's 'greenest' ship?
• Royal Navy takes delivery of its new jet-powered 400mph Banshee drones

The exchanges come as France prepares to host Wales in the final round of the Six Nations match on Saturday, with Fabien Galthié's side still hoping to retain the title they won last year.

British sailors from the Royal Navy's HMS Tamar recently protected rare turtle nesting grounds and helped with a huge illegal fishing haul during three weeks in an Indian Ocean paradise.

The crew found the shores of the British Indian Ocean Territory littered with tonnes of rubbish and fishermen flouting international law, trawling the territory’s expansive, protected waters – roughly the size of Texas – for its rich stocks of rare fish.

HMS Tamar is on a five-year mission to the Indo-Asia-Pacific to work with international allies and underscore Britain's commitment to the region, which includes clearing up rubbish and preventing illegal fishing.