New agreement between FFR and LNR and potential "France Development" match

The new agreement between the FFR and the LNR, concerning the release of players for international periods, has just been unveiled. We learn of the return of groups of 42 players, but also the possibility of a new "France Development" match on the weekend 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 2025 and 2026 Six Nations Tournaments as well as during the summer international breaks of 2025 and 2026 and the autumn breaks of 2024 and 2025.

Return of the 42 players

Fabien Galthié will once again be able, as was the case during his first term, to have 42 players to prepare for the Six Nations Tournaments, starting with 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 line up with their club in the Top 14. At the same time, the 23 players kept in Marcoussis will remain available to the French 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 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 resting" .

The operation will be identical for the autumn international windows starting 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 Development" match on the weekend of the Top 14 2025 semi-finals

As for the summer tours, the message is clear: let the key players rest. "The 2025 and 2026 summer international periods are part of a preparation cycle for the 2027 World Cup with an approach focused on managing the most in-demand players and on gradually building the squad," the FFR said in its press release. The French XV should therefore travel to New Zealand in the summer of 2025 without most of its key players, who will be rested.

The idea of 42 players remains, however this group will be formed in two stages. First, 28 players will be called up in the first stage after the Top 14 play-offs. They will prepare for a "France Development" match that will be played on the weekend of the Top 14 semi-finals. A match that will be played against "a nation that is not part of the major countries in world rugby." The group of 28 players will be completed by 14 new players from the two teams eliminated in the Top 14 semi-finals. 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 their future events.