Paris - Sacked France coach Guy Noves has been summoned to answer a charge of serious misconduct by the French rugby federation, sources confirmed on Thursday following a newspaper report in L'Equipe.

Noves and his two assistants have received a registered letter requesting their appearance at a meeting "prior to dismissal for serious misconduct" less than 24 hours after he became the first France coach in history to be axed.

Former Bordeaux-Begles coach Jacques Brunel was named as successor to Noves, 63, who paid the price for two dismal years in charge of Les Bleus.

Under his watch France won a meagre seven from 22 matches (21 Tests), alongside 14 defeats and a humiliating home draw with 2019 World Cup hosts Japan.

If the serious misconduct charge is proven the federation will escape having to pay Noves and his two assistants Yannick Bru and Jean-Frdric Dubois compensation reported by local media to be between £1.5 and £2 million.

Brunel joins the national set-up just five weeks before France face Ireland in their Six Nations opener.

The ex Italy boss told AFP after his appointment: "Our aim is to win the Six Nations.

"Perhaps in the past, we were too focused on winning the World Cup and not enough on the present moment and that is the Six Nations. Every year, France must be competitive for the final victory."

Brunel cautioned against making the same errors which jinxed Noves who called up 74 players during his time at the helm.

"There are still two years before the World Cup. For the Six Nations, we must take the best players, the fittest players. In any team, you need a mix of young and more experienced players.

"There are quality young players -- but you have to find that balance."