According to L'Equipe, the New Zealand Federation plans to relocate one of the three tests against the Blues scheduled for July 2025 to American soil. A surprising proposition which poses an essential question: sport or spectacle?
The All Blacks are no strangers to American fields. In 2016, they faced Ireland in Chicago, in a memorable match marked by a historic defeat (40-29). More recently, last July, they dominated Fiji in San Diego with a clear score of 47-5.
A return to the United States for a clash against France would be a new step in their expansion strategy. On the French side, this would not be a first either. The Blues played two matches in the United States in 1991, in Denver and Colorado Springs. These matches nevertheless remain anecdotal, far from the exposure that a duel against the legendary New Zealand team would have.
The promotion of Rugby in question
Florian Grill, president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), confirmed the existence of discussions on this subject:
“They actually mentioned this proposal to us. We are waiting to see in what framework and to receive a formal proposal. We are not necessarily favorable from a sporting point of view but are considering the interest in terms of promoting rugby in the United States ahead of the 2031 World Cup which will take place there. It is therefore still too early to answer since we do not know the precise framework to date. »
For New Zealand, playing in the United States would allow it to capitalize on the growing popularity of rugby in North America, particularly in view of the 2031 World Cup. For France, it could be an opportunity to promote its talents and strengthen the image of the XV of France internationally.
Very legitimate sports reserves
However, such a move is not without its problems. Time difference, long journeys and disrupted preparation are all factors that could weigh on players' performance, especially in such a prestigious test series.
According to L'Equipe, Fabien Galthié would not be very hot. As a reminder, the French team will face the All Blacks in the Top 14 finalists. It is therefore a development team that the staff will put together as was the case in South America.
If the idea is attractive in terms of marketing, nothing has yet been done. The two federations must agree on the conditions and precise framework of this possible relocation. A decision which could well transform this series into a unique event in the history of rugby.
