New Zealand Rugby has requested clarification from World Rugby regarding France’s plan to omit key players from their squad for the upcoming three-Test tour against the All Blacks next year.
The FFR announced that players involved in the domestic Top 14 final, scheduled for June 28, would be unavailable for the tour as part of an agreement with French clubs.
World Rugby’s Regulation Nine mandates that players must be available for international selection during designated periods, with the global governing body stressing that this rule is vital to the integrity and best interests of the sport.
New Zealand Rugby expressed concern about the decision, particularly regarding its impact on the tour’s marketability and financial benefits. The absence of marquee players such as Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack from Toulouse—who have dominated the Top 14—could diminish the appeal of the series.
This isn’t the first time France has fielded a second-string squad for a southern hemisphere tour, as seen during their 2021 Australia tour, when more than half the squad consisted of uncapped players due to similar scheduling conflicts.
While French coach Fabien Galthié has indicated plans to rest 20 of his top players for the tour, New Zealand Rugby, which recently posted significant financial losses, is keen to understand the full implications of this decision ahead of the series.
