The new agreement between the FFR and the LNR, concerning the release of players for international periods, has just been revealed. We learn of the return of the groups of 42 players, but also the possibility of a new “France Développement” match on the weekends of the Top 14 2025 semi-finals.
In collaboration with the LNR, the FFR has just unveiled the new agreement concerning the release of internationals for the 6 Nations Tournaments 2025 and 2026 as well as during the summer international breaks of 2025 and 2026 and those of the fall of 2024 and 2025.
Return of the 42 players
Fabien Galthié will once again be able, as was the case during his first mandate, to have 42 players available to prepare for the 6 Nations Tournaments, from the next meeting in early 2025. Fourteen days before the start of the competition, 42 players will be made available to the Blues staff. Among them, 19 will be released on Wednesday evening and will therefore be able to be aligned with their club in the Top 14. At the same time, the 23 players kept at Marcoussis will remain available to the France team and will not play with their team.
During competition weeks, the operation will be the same, but with not 23 but 28 players who will remain in Marcoussis. The 14 released players will be able to defend the colors of their club in the Top 14. During weeks without a match, 9 of the 28 players will be able, this time, to return to the club the day after the match and therefore be aligned with their team. The staff still retains the right to block 19 players who “will be at rest”.
The operation will be identical for the autumn international windows this year with the matches against Japan (November 9), New Zealand (November 16) and Argentina (November 22). Thus, two weeks before the first match, 42 players will be selected. During the first week, 19 players will be released on Wednesday evening. During match weeks, only 14 players will return to the club on Wednesday evening and 28 players will therefore be at the full disposal of the French staff.
A “France Développement” match on the weekend of the 2025 Top 14 semi-finals
When it comes to summer tours, the message is clear: give the executives a rest. “The 2025 and 2026 international summer periods are part of a preparation cycle for the 2027 World Cup with an approach focused on the management of the players most in demand and the gradual construction of the squad,” indicates the FFR in its press release. The French XV should therefore travel to New Zealand in the summer of 2025, without most of its major players, who will be spared.
The idea of 42 players remains, however this group will be formed in two stages. Firstly, 28 players will be called up initially after the Top 14 play-offs. They will prepare a “France Développement” match which will be played on the weekend of the Top 14 semi-finals. A meeting which will take place will argue against “a nation not part of the major countries of world rugby.” The group of 28 players will be completed by 14 new players from the two teams eliminated in the semi-finals of the Top 14. The finalists will, as was already the case, be left to rest for these summer tours. Fabien Galthié and his staff once again have a large number of players to prepare for future events.
