Several hundred supporters made the two teams welcome and were delighted as Tigers produced a determined defensive performance in the opening minutes before going on to score two tries on the way to a 24-5 lead at half-time.
A Ricky Aley penalty got the scoreboard moving and then Greig Tonks, playing at outside centre, got the first touchdown after supporting a break by Will Lawson.
After a try for France No12 Namy, fly-half Aley added two penalties, including one from 40 metres, and then Tonks and Lawson combined to create a score for wing Will Hurrell.
Aley, who had been involved in a goal-kicking exercise in front of a 17,000-strong Tigers crowd during half-time in Saturday's Guinness Premiership match against Gloucester Rugby, converted to make it 21-5 and then added his fourth penalty in the last minute of the half.
The French got the second half off to a perfect start with captain and No8 Lauret forcing his way over the tryline twice in quick succession to make the score 24-15 and then replacement Griffoul finished off a sweeping attack on the right.
Tonks kicked a drop goal to keep Tigers a score in front at 27-20 but Barrau converted a second try by Griffoul and then right wing Fall finished off a quick attack to put the visitors ahead at 32-27.
France were still not finished as Doumayrou kicked ahead and dropped on the ball for another score and, straight from the restart, Fall ran in on the right for his side's eighth try of an entertaining game. Barrau converted to bring the scoring to a close and both sides left the field to appreciative applause from the crowd.
Tigers Academy: Culpin, Lowers, Tonks, Lawson, Hurrell, Aley, Harrison (c); Brown, Collett, Parkins, Hemmingway, Hurst, Avent, Everard, Saxon. Reps: Badham, Green, Bowers, Bell, M Tuilagi, Miller, Gillick, Barnham, Goldspink, Twelvetrees
France U19: Guitone, Fall, Tranier, Namy, Jane, Bernard, Cazenave; Wattremez, Miro, Chabert, Mondoulet, Mutel, Brethous, Guillot, Lauret (c). Reps: Raffault, Slimani, Hezard, Peppers, Barrau, Griffoul, Rado, Doumayrou, Lapandry, Valencon, Boukherou.
