Paris, France — As the Rugby World Cup heads into the quarter final matches next week, France, who is hosting the tournament, continues to run with its rugby-themed items. It all began with a watch and wines, and now a Parisian chocolate maker has gotten into the act with some sumptuous, almost too beautiful to bite into chocolates. Award-winning French pastry chef Christelle Brua — she was elected best pastry chef of the year in 2009, was the head pastry chef at the three-star Michelin restaurant the Pré Catalan and was the pastry chef at the Elysée Palace, the official residence of the presidents of France — is also a great rugby fan and member of the committee of the French charity Rugby au Coeur (Rugby at Heart). She was chosen to fashion a chocolate rugby ball for the 2023 World Rugby Cup which is on sale in her Parisian boutique, Madame Cacao which opened last April, and on line at Epicery until October 28th. She is the only chef authorized to re-create the iconic official oval ball.

The chocolate rugby ball weighs in at seven ounces (200 grams) and is generously garnished with chocolate goodies inside. It is available both in milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Some of the profits from the sales of the chocolates will be donated to the Rugby au Couer charity which works to create educational, inclusive and equitable initiatives through the social ties created around the sport of rugby. Real official rugby balls are made by the house of Gilbert in the town of Rugby in England. Special to The Gourmet Gazette. Madame Cacao, 10, rue du Cherche-Midi, 75006 Paris. Also available on-line at: https://www.epicery.com/