The French tour of New Zealand, does eligibility with clubs put in check?
France will make one Tour of New Zealand in Julybut due to the calendar of the Top 14, Its main figures would be affected to clubshence The trip could be made without their best players. All rugby, in Disney+.
He Current agreement between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the National Rugby League (LNR), which was confirmed in October 2024, It stipulates that those who appear in the Top 14 final cannot participate in these tests. This was a modification of the previous “premium” policy that saw Gallthié to give rest to the players who considered themselves keys to the national configuration, regardless of the position that would occupy their club.
Therefore, France could bring a stronger team to New Zealand than the one who traveled to Argentina, Japan and Australia in previous seasons, but it is possible that he still lacks the spine. The Les Bleus core comes from the double 2024 champion, Toulouseand once again they Rouge et Noir are at the top of the Top 14 table, which gives them an easy path to the final if they remain there. In case of reaching the definition of the local tournament, players such as Pedato Mauvaka, Julien Marchand, Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos, would be discarded from the All Blacks games.
However, after six nations, Ntamack revealed his desire to face Scott Robertson’s men in July. “I do not know what exactly possible or not, if those who get to the final are allowed to go to New Zealand. It is my dream to play there, so if I am lucky to go, even if the club is in the final, it will obviously be a pleasure. Maybe an exception can be made with the tour, because it is quite exceptional to go to play New Zealand. With or without end, if I go it will be a pleasure, because the tours of New Zealand is unique.Said the Opening. In addition, your teammate, Meafouborn in Australia, He followed the steps of the Opening and expressed his desire to face the All Blacks making it clear that they are willing not to play the Top 14 final, which potentially caused these discussions.
“We want to put the files on the table”declared a head of the FFR to Midi Olympique. Also, he said that sending weakened teams could harm them in the future: “Be outside the world rugby by not sending our best players to the southern hemisphere is to put ourselves in danger. Recall that the showcase is the French team. We must find solutions to lighten the calendar. Some dates are not interested today, while others are essential,”.
At the moment, those conversations will probably not include the next tour, but GALTHIÉ has kept their options open before the middle of the year tests. That might mean making some exceptions in certain cases, but the 56 -year -old technician does not want to put his players at risk. “If we find a solution with clubs, we can consider it. If that implies physically deteriorating, endangering us until 2027, it makes no sense. We want to take the best possible equipment to New Zealand, but the number one criteria remains health,”Gallehie declared Le Figaro.
