France’s Rugby World Cup Heartbreak: A Familiar Story for the Bleus

Twickenham, London – The roar of the crowd at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday was a stark reminder of the high stakes in the 2025 Rugby World cup. For the French national team, affectionately known as the “Bleus,” the final whistle brought not the glory they craved, but a familiar sting of disappointment. A decisive 42-26 loss to the formidable New Zealand “All Blacks” in the bronze medal match marked their worst World cup finish since 2010, leaving fans questioning the path forward for French rugby.

This latest setback follows a gut-wrenching semi-final defeat just a week prior, where the Bleus fell 35-17 to the English “Red Roses.” This marks the ninth time in the tournament’s history that France has fallen short of reaching the final, a recurring theme that has become a source of frustration for a nation with such a rich rugby heritage. The fourth-place finish mirrors their performance in 2010, when they were also bested by Australia.Their only worse showing in the modern era was in 1998, when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals.

The narrative of “almost there” has become a painful refrain for French rugby enthusiasts.