France Rugby Squad Boosted For 2025 New Zealand Tour After Top 14 Agreement

The France rugby squad has received a major boost following a new agreement with the Top 14 league while preparing for the 2025 New Zealand Tour. This deal means that some of France’s top players could be available to face the All Blacks this July, improving a squad that was initially expected to be mostly second-string.

A New Level of Cooperation

In previous years, the overlap between the Top 14 play-offs and France’s summer tours forced the France rugby squad to travel without many of its star players, due to club commitments and concerns about player fatigue. However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) have now agreed to allow several key players to join the tour, provided they have not played too much during the season.

Jean-Marc Lhermet, vice-president of the FFR, said, “This agreement perfectly shows the shared wish of the FFR and the LNR to combine sporting performance and player protection. By keeping the balance between the demands of the calendars and the need to manage players’ playing time, we are giving the French team the chance to prepare for this tour to New Zealand with ambition and calm. This new system shows our ability to work together, for the good of French rugby and its players.”

Squad Details and Selection

• The 42-man France rugby squad will mostly include players who were used very little or did not feature in the Six Nations.

• Up to five players from each of the two Top 14 finalist clubs can be selected, as long as they have not been overplayed during the season.

• Some star players who have played heavily are still expected to be rested.

• Injuries to key players like Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont mean they are unlikely to be part of the tour.

• The agreement balances player welfare with the need to field a competitive France rugby squad.

Tour Fixtures

The France rugby squad will face the All Blacks in a three-Test series starting on 5 July:

• 5 July: Dunedin

• 12 July: Wellington

• 19 July: Hamilton

All matches will be played in New Zealand, with no games scheduled in the United States due to travel concerns.

Context and Expectations

While some people raised questions on whether the France rugby squad will be at full strength, the agreement is seen as a positive step for French rugby. It protects players from burnout while allowing the team to build depth ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Looking Forward

The 2025 New Zealand tour will be an important test for the France rugby squad, blending experienced players with emerging talent. With recent successes against the All Blacks, the squad looks set to put up a strong challenge in one of rugby’s toughest environments.

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