Key French officials will meet this week ahead of a series of talks to discuss their policy which prevents Fabien Galthie from picking some of his best players for the mid-year internationals.
France are set to tour New Zealand in July in what would ordinarily be a mouth-watering series, but they are likely to do so without some of their stars.
The current agreement – confirmed in October 2024 – between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and National Rugby League (LNR), who are in charge of the clubs, stipulates that those who feature in the Top 14 final cannot take part in those Tests.
That was an amendment from the previous ‘premium’ policy which saw Galthie rest the individuals that were deemed key to the national set-up, irrespective of where their club finished.
Stronger team to face the All Blacks
France could therefore take a stronger squad to New Zealand than the group that travelled to Argentina, Japan and Australia in previous seasons, but the spine may still be missing.
The core of the national team comes from the 2024 double winners Toulouse and once again Les Rouge et Noir reside at the summit of the Top 14 table, giving them an easier path to the final should they remain there.
If they were to reach the domestic showpiece event, the likes of hookers Peato Mauvaka and Julien Marchand, locks Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou, and playmakers, Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos, would be ruled out of the All Blacks games.
However, following the Six Nations, Ntamack revealed his desire to face Scott Robertson’s men in July.
“I don’t know what’s exactly possible or not, if those in the final are allowed to go to New Zealand,” he told reporters in March.
“It’s my dream to play there so if I’m lucky enough to go, even if the club are in the final, it will obviously be a pleasure.
“Maybe there’s an exception to be done with the tour because it’s quite exceptional to go and play in New Zealand. Final or no final, if I go it will be a pleasure because tours of New Zealand are unique.”
Romain Ntamack ‘dreams’ of playing the All Blacks and is willing to give up possible Top 14 final
Club team-mate and the Australian-born Meafou has since followed Ntamack in expressing a wish to face the All Blacks, which has potentially prompted these discussions.
An FFR official told Midi Olympique that “we want to put the files on the table”, and claimed that sending weakened teams could harm them in the future.
“Putting ourselves on the sidelines of world rugby by not sending our best players to the southern hemisphere is putting ourselves in danger. Let’s remember that the showcase is the French team.” he added.
“We must find solutions to lighten the schedule. Some dates are of no interest today, while others are essential.”
New Zealand’s and Galthie’s view
It was reported last year that New Zealand Rugby were fuming about the likelihood of Les Bleus sending a second-string team to the southern hemisphere.
At the moment, those talks will probably not include the upcoming tour, but head coach Galthie has kept his options open ahead of the mid-year Tests.
That could perhaps mean making some exceptions in certain cases, but the 56-year-old does not want to put his players at risk.
The Top 14 is the most physically demanding league in the world with 26 regular season matches, while the clubs are also involved in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
“If we find a solution [with the clubs], we can think about it. If it means deteriorating physically, putting ourselves in danger until 2027, there’s no point,” Galthie told Le Figaro.
“We want to take the best possible team to New Zealand, but the number one criteria remains your health.”
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