Croydon has been described as “dull and monotonous” by a French newspaper.
The south London borough is currently home to the French rugby team, Les Bleus, while they compete in the Rugby World Cup, which begins on Friday.
But MetroNews reported that Croydon was "pas tres chic" - translated as 'not very stylish' - and suggested the players were not enjoying their surroundings.
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“Croydon remains dull and monotonous, especially in its northern part, much more [urbanised] than the south,” the paper's Sebastien Coca said.
The journalist also referred to the 2011 London riots as “the last time the area made headlines”.
The rugby team are staying at the four-star Selsdon Park Hotel in the borough, but the paper reported: "There’s no doubt they’ll linger for far less time in the town that surrounds it”.
“Because if the place where the French XV are staying is pretty and leafy, this south London suburb is much less so.”
But Matthew Sims, chief executive of the Croydon Business Improvement District, said the French criticism was not helpful, adding Croydon was a “wonderful” place to be.
“With the level of activity taking place here, the growth experienced in terms of those who want to work, live and visit Croydon, these kind of reports do not set us back.
“I wouldn’t say it is helpful but it is certainly not going to put us back because we have more than enough going on here, with £5.2 billion secured to transform Croydon and make it the regeneration borough for London."
Rugby World Cup country-by-country guide
Over the weekend, French rugby player, Uini Atonio, said his sleep was disrupted after a rowdy wedding party kept him up.
And in an incident unlikely to make the borough any more popular with the national rugby team, it was reported by the Croydon Advertiser that their tour bus was given a parking ticket.
Welcome to Croydon, Team France!! @rugbyworldcup @CroydonAd @CroydonGuardian #ParkingTicket #FML #ExpensiveCurry pic.twitter.com/7K3ZJR9Fnw
— Dan M Hicks (@DanMHicks) September 16, 2015
Additional reporting by PA
