France have declined overtures from New Zealand to play a Test in the USA in 2025, according to the French rugby federation (FFR).
FFR president Florian Grill was speaking to AFP, confirming a report in the newspaper L’Equipe.
France are due to play a three-Test series against New Zealand but resisted a request to play the last of those matches in the United States.
“We considered that there was a double time difference to manage and a double change of season,” Grill told AFP.
“We consulted with our medical committee and it was not reasonable for the health of the players, as it could have caused injuries, and our priority is the health of the players.”
The All Blacks, who have now lost three in a row to France after going down 30-29 in Paris last month, played Fiji last July in San Diego and Ireland in 2016 in Chicago. They are due to meet the Irish again in a Chicago rematch next November.
“We can imagine that it could be interesting for the New Zealanders and it’s not uninteresting [to us] either, given that the 2031 World Cup is in the United States,” said Grill.
“But we can find other opportunities to go to the United States without having a double time zone jump and also the issue of changing seasons.”
France will already be at a disadvantage on the tour as they will not be taking players who are in the Top 14 final on 28 June, 2025.
They are also likely to rest some key players even if they do not take part in the final.
The tour itinerary has not yet been released but the three Test matches are expected to be played on the weekends of 5, 12 and 19 July.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Ramos/World Rugby via Getty Images
