After winning the Six Nations Tournament, the staff and players of the French XV team will gather in June to prepare for the new competition, the Nations Championship, which will take place in July. Three matches initially, then three in November, with hopes of playing in a final. The question remains: with which players?
Between the recently won Six Nations Tournament and the upcoming World Cup in Australia, there is another trophy to aim for in the coming months for the French team. The tours are now a thing of the past; the Nations Championship is the new competition that will pit the countries of the Northern Hemisphere against those of the Southern Hemisphere. It will unfold in two parts: the North in the South in July and vice versa in November, culminating in a weekend of finals from November 27 to 29 in Twickenham (with the final on Sunday, the 29th), where the top two teams will vie for the title, along with ranking matches to determine the victor from each hemisphere.
France, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales will face off against South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, and Japan in this championship. The action kicks off with New Zealand vs. France, Australia vs. Ireland, and South Africa vs. England on Saturday, July 4. Those French players not involved in the Top 14 semi-finals will gather in mid-June in Marcoussis to prepare for a match labeled “France A” against “England A” in Vannes on Saturday, June 20. The squad will be adjusted with players from the Top 14 losing teams (June 19-20), and the French delegation will then depart for Australia and Brisbane on Tuesday, June 23, to set up their base camp.
Galthié will need to “balance” his squad
A four-day round trip to Christchurch is scheduled to play the first match against the All Blacks, a match that the championship finalists will not be able to participate in. It remains to be seen if any of these finalists will join the French XV. Coach Fabien Galthié will need to “balance” his squad, managing the needs for rest for those with the most game time and forming a group capable of performing well, more so than in the three tests in New Zealand last year, to stay competitive in November. Once again, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and National Rugby League (LNR) have agreed to find the right compromise to please everyone, even though Galthié knows he won’t have all his key players.
With Toulouse, Bordeaux, Pau, Toulon, and a few Clermont, Racing, Montpellier, or La Rochelle players (apologies to those we forgot), not everyone will make it to the Top 14 finals. The pool of talent seen this winter in the Six Nations – and also on the extended 42-player roster – could have a chance to shine. Perhaps, a year out from the World Cup in Australia, this will be the last opportunity to make a mark, especially in the eyes of the coaching staff.
France’s Schedule in the Nations Championship In July – New Zealand vs. France, Saturday, July 4 in Christchurch (9:10 am Paris time) – Australia vs. France, Saturday, July 11 in Brisbane (9:40 am) – Japan vs. France, Saturday, July 18 in Tokyo (7:10 am)
In November – France vs. Fiji, Saturday, November 7 (location to be determined) – France vs. South Africa, Saturday, November 14 at Stade de France – France vs. Argentina, Saturday, November 21 at Stade de France – November 27-29 finals in London if the French team qualifies
