We are not going back on privileges. Fabien Galthié’s successor will have the same facility as the current coach of the Blues (in contract until June 2028) to draw from the Top 14 reservoir in order to develop his French XV.
The French Federation and the National Rugby League have reached an agreement and completed a new agreement, a year and a half before the expiry of the previous one, running over the period from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031. This agreement will be subject to the approval of the respective general assemblies of the FFR and the LNR, scheduled for February 4, but its ratification is beyond doubt.
The 42-player rule remains in effect
No upheaval is envisaged. The copy takes up the main lines of its predecessor. Only a few adjustments were added to the contract. The coach will therefore always call 42 players during the meetings before the competitions. His group will then be reduced to 28 midweek and then to 23 for the match.
The only innovations concern the 14 released players. They can no longer be drawn from clubs which provide large contingents of internationals among the 28 involved in the match, such as Stade Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles for example.
And there will be a rotation within the group of 14, particularly between the November tour and the Six Nations Tournament, in order to avoid the same players spending their time going back and forth between their club and Marcoussis, the Blues’ training center in Essonne, throughout the season.
No restrictions for summer tours
A relaxation is also planned for the summer tour. There will no longer be a set rule for whether or not to take Top 14 finalist players to the southern hemisphere in July. The priority will be to avoid physical and mental fatigue and the decision will be made after dialogue between the player, the Blues staff and his club management.
In addition, from the 2026-2027 season, a group of FFR/LNR experts (scientists and technicians) will be created in order to carry out work on workload leading to recommendations on playing time and injury prevention.
Players available for rugby sevens at the 2028 Olympics
Finally, for rugby sevens, the agreement extends the system which led to the Olympic success of Paris 2024 with a view to the 2028 Olympic Games. The list of club players selectable for international tournaments will even be expanded and will be able to include, from 2026-2027, up to 3 players per club while respecting the overall solicitation time per season (12 weeks).
Eight months before the Los Angeles Olympic Games, an exclusive provision of certain players and the integration of elements of the French XV will be possible but subject to an agreement between the player, his club and the FFR. Enough to leave the possibility for Antoine Dupont to defend his Olympic title in California.
