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While the British and Irish Lions were physically touring Australia, many involved had their minds elsewhere, France to be specific.
As the tour got off to a lacklustre start, and the tour matches failed to catch fire, not aided by Australia coach Joe Schmidt holding back most of his test stars, the visiting media were pushing the idea of a tour to France.
Meanwhile, former France international and now one of the French Rugby Federation’s (FFR) vice-presidents Abdelatif Benazzi (who also holds roles for World Rugby and the Six Nations) was out in Melbourne enjoying discussions with the Lions’ powerbrokers.
It followed up a meeting between Nicolas Hourquet’s, the FFR's director of international relations, and Lions officials in Dublin before their clash with Argentina.
Since then, there has been speculation galore about the Lions men and women playing France or a French XV as their farewell match before the 2027 and 2029 tours to New Zealand.
“We had contact, not formally, just a friendly chat with the guys from the Lions and they started thinking maybe it would be a good idea,” Benazzi said. “We don’t have a formal decision now but maybe we will talk about having two meetings with the (women) and the Lions and the men and the Lions in the future. Maybe in 2027 and 2029.
“FUTURE PROGRAMMES”
“We don’t think of just one shot, we think of a programme for the future. It’s good for everyone because it’s powerful and we want to share it with this institution.”
Of course, the Lions have met France once, back in 1989 when they played Les Bleus as part of the FFR’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
The Lions won 29-27 that day, a few months after they returned from Australia with a 2-1 series win.
“I think we missed a lot of time since 1989, not using our relationship but now we understand each other. I don’t understand why we spent 40 years waiting to start contact with this institution.
“I want to spend a bit of time with the staff and just think about how we can build a new business model with this institution between France and the Lions.”
The last sentence probably gives a greater idea of why France want a bit of the action. They’ve seen how much Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa make and fancy a piece of the pie.
PIECE OF THE PIE
Where they would fit any match into the calendar is hard to see, especially with the Nations Championship starting up in 2026, nor how the Lions squad would come together especially as Benazzi says it wouldn’t impact their current four-year rotation against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Would the four home unions want to see their best players disappear again?
There’s also the length of the Top 14 season. This season, Toulouse defeated Bordeaux-Begles on 28 June, the same day that the Lions were running out on Aussie soil against Western Force. Any matches would also push the starts of the following Top 14/Premiership/URC seasons back.
You can bet the FFR, Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) who run the Top 14 and ProD2 would be interested, for the same reason that Benazzi is. Money.
However, there are the French player welfare rules of a maximum of 2000 minutes or 30 games, which meant they sent a squad with few of their leading lights to New Zealand this summer, as the FFR-LNR prioritises Six Nations matches above those in the summer.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
For now, though, these are questions for someone else to work out. The most likely Lions tour to France is a women’s tour in 2031, which would provide a greater depth of non-test matches than the other possible destination, Canada.
The upsides are clear. A television deal that would dwarf the other three tours. Closer access for Lions fans, who could, come and go in a day, though few would be unlikely to have the full odyssey that many follow in further flung destinations, and some amazing food, drink, and cities to experience.
We’d also have a major tournament in summer (a more reliable French summer to boot, than those few weeks offered in the UK and Ireland). Surfing in Biarritz? Sailing in La Rochelle, or just lounging on a Mediterranean beach? Yes, yes, yes.
So, for now, pour yourself a Kir Royal, imagine your heroes in red running out on a gorgeous French summer’s evening, and join us for the ATR British and Irish Lions tour of France.
Itinerary
Match 1 – Toulon v Lions, Stade de Riviera, Nice
Match 2 – Clermont Auvergne v Lions, Stade Marcel Michelin, Clermont Ferrand
Match 3 – XV de Paris v Lions, Parc de Princes, Paris
Match 4 – La Rochelle v Lions, Stade Marcel Deflandre, La Rochelle
Match 5 – Toulouse v Lions, Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse
Match 6 – Bordeaux v Lions, Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux
Match 7 – XV Basque v Lions, Real Arena, San Sebastian
Match 8 – Lyon v Lions, Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Match 9 – France v Lions, first test, Stade de Lyon, Lyon
Match 10 – Montpellier v Lions, Stade Yves du Manoir
Match 11 – France v Lions, second test, Stade Velodrome, Marseille
Match 12 – France v Lions, third test, Stade de France, Paris