France head coach Fabien Galthie has had his playing stocks boosted ahead of the tour to New Zealand for the three-Test matches against the All Blacks.
Les Bleus were set to tour Aotearoa without several of their top players due to an agreement between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the National Rugby League (LNR) over players’ loads.
This would follow a trend that has been in place since Galthie took charge of the squad following the 2019 Rugby World Cup with weakened squads touring Australia, Japan and Argentina.
The FFR confirmed in October last year that Galthie would not be able to select certain players and had to adhere to the agreement between the two governing bodies yet again, but outcry from several French players, including star fly-half Romain Ntamack, and the New Zealand Rugby Union sparked debate about a possible exception being made.
Exception made for All Blacks
The LNR and FFR have been locked in talks since and on Monday, June 3 they announced the outcome of their decision which will give Galthie more freedom in selection but still with restrictions.
Galthie will select a 42-man squad for the tour to New Zealand with the FFR confirming that it will feature players who “had little or no” involvement in the 2025 Six Nations Championship, where France were crowned champions.
Additionally, the head coach will not be permitted to select players from the clubs in the Top 14 final with the exception of a maximum of five players.
The five players from those clubs must also meet the following conditions:
– The players called upon must not have had too much playing time during the 2024/2025 season.
– Their selection will be subject to the prior agreement of their club.
The FFR added that “preliminary discussions will take place at the beginning of June between the coach of the France Men’s XV and the manager of the club concerned.”
“This agreement perfectly illustrates the common desire of the FFR and the LNR to combine sporting performance and player protection,” FFR vice president Jean-Marc Lhermet stated.
“By preserving the balance between the demands of the calendars and the necessary management of the players’ playing time, we are giving the France team the means to prepare for this tour of New Zealand with ambition and serenity. This innovative system shows our ability to work together, in the interest of French rugby and its players.”
LNR president Yann Roubert added: “This amendment illustrates the ability of the LNR and the FFR to build balanced solutions together. It allows the France team to approach this prestigious tour of New Zealand with ambition, in compliance with the policy of managing the players’ load over the long term.”
All Blacks: When Scott Robertson will name his 35-man squad to face France
Potential Top 14 finalists
The Top 14 enters the final round of the regular season this weekend with Toulouse and Bordeaux in the top two positions, and if the pair were to meet in the showpiece event, it would certainly be the most limiting for Galthie.
Stars like Ntamack, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana, Thomas Ramos, Francois Cros, Anthony Jelonch and several others who lifted the Six Nations earlier this year all ply their trade at the two clubs.
Meanwhile, captain Antoine Dupont is still sidelined after tearing his ACL against Ireland earlier this year and his clubmate Ntamack may also miss the tour due to a troublesome knee injury.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-to-face-a-handful-of-frances-best-after-an-agreement-is-reached-with-major-caveats
