return to 42 players for the next Tournament, the new FFR-LNR amendment for the provision of internationals

The French Rugby Federation and the National Rugby League formalized this Tuesday a new amendment to the agreement which binds the two parties for the provision of internationals for matches of the French XV for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons . It is specified, in the joint press release, that “the organization of the 2026-2027 season, pre-World Cup, will be discussed after knowledge of the conditions for organizing the Nations Cup (July and November 2026).”

And to add: “This amendment extends the collaboration between the two institutions and symbolizes the common desire of the FFR and the LNR to reconcile the performance of the French teams, the competitiveness of the clubs and the health of the players.” During the next two seasons, the conditions for making international players available will be different during the Six Nations Tournament, summer tours, and autumn tours.

Six Nations Tournament 2025 and 2026

Fabien Galthié and his staff will have 42 players, who will be selected 14 days before the century-old competition. During the first week of training, 23 players will be kept until Sunday and the other 19 will be made available to the clubs to compete in the Top 14. During the rest of the competition, 28 players will be kept for the weekend in Marcoussis. and the others will return to their respective clubs. During the weeks when the French XV will not play, 9 of the 28 players selected will be able to return to their clubs the day after the last match played by the Blues.

During the last Six Nations Tournament, Fabien Galthié only had a group of 34 players available instead of the 42 in the previous agreement. This group was reduced to 28 on Wednesday evening with six players returning to their clubs to play a day of the Top 14.

Program for the 2025 Tournament for the Blues:

Friday January 31 (9:15 p.m.): France-Wales
Saturday February 8 (5:45 p.m.): England-France
Sunday February 23 (4 p.m.): Italy-France
Saturday March 8 (3:15 p.m.): Ireland-France
Saturday March 15 (9 p.m.): France-Scotland

Summer tours 2025 and 2026

For the summer test matches, there will be a “approach focused on the management of the most sought-after players and the gradual construction of the squad”. Again 42 players will be selected, but this time in two stages. Initially, 28 players will be called up after the Top 14 play-offs and will play a match with “France Développement” during the weekend where the semi-finals of the championship will take place. Then, players who were eliminated at the semi-final stage will be able to join the France group. In any case, the Top 14 finalist players cannot be selected.

Fall tours 2024 and 2025

The French staff will select a group of 42 players 14 days before the first of the autumn test matches. During the first week of training at Marcoussis, 23 players will be kept until Sunday and the other 19 players will return to their club to play the Top 14. During match weeks, 28 players will be kept for the weekend and 14 will return in their clubs.

Schedule of test matches for November 2024 and 2025:

2024
November 9: France-Japan
November 16: France-New Zealand
November 23: France-Argentina

2025
November 8: France-South Africa
November 15: France-Fiji
November 22: France-Australia

Also readXV of France: before the November tour, Fabien Galthié visits Toulon

Jean-Marc Lhermet, vice-president of the FFR in charge of high level, declared in the press release published today: “The collaboration between the French Rugby Federation and the National Rugby League is essential to guarantee both the performance of the French teams and the competitiveness of professional clubs. Thanks to our constant dialogue and regular exchanges, we have reached an agreement which also includes an extensive relationship with the clubs for more individualized monitoring of targeted players. It is together that we are building the future of French rugby and we are proud of it.” For René Bouscatel, president of the LNR, “this amendment guarantees the competitiveness of the Top 14 while allowing the national team to work in the best possible conditions in order to meet the future challenges of French rugby”.