The FFR communicated on Monday the names of the five finalists of the Top 14 who will join the Blues in New Zealand for the three test match in July against the All Blacks.
The center of Toulouse Pierre-Louis Barassi and his UBB nicolas Depoortère counterpart will join the XV of France for the tour in New Zealand after having played the Top 14 final on Saturday evening, the French rugby federation announced on Monday.
Barassi (27, 7 selections) and Depoortère (22, 2 sel.), Are accompanied by three other finalists, forwards without any cape: the Bordelo-Béglais Pierre Bochaton (24) and Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer (28 years old) and the Toulousain Joshua Brennan (23). The final was won on Saturday by Toulouse after extension against the Union Bordeaux-Bègles 39-33.
The executives remain absent
The participation of finalists of Top 14 in a summer tour of the XV of France had not arrived for several years, the objective being to allow the players who had a long season of being able to rest. But for this trip to New Zealand, several players from the Blues had expressed the desire to participate and the Federation and the National Rugby League have reached an agreement.
Finally, except for Barassi, returned in force among the Blues during the last tournament of the 6 nations, no other executive in the XV of France is there. Many are injured (Dupont, Mauvaka, Ntamack, Atonio); The others were still left to rest.
The five players called after the final are expected on Wednesday in New Zealand to complete the group – which will then go to 42 players – but must not participate in the first of three Test -Matchs against the All Blacks, scheduled for Saturday July 5 in Dunedin (9:05 am, French time).
The back of the Stade Français Léo Barré, which remained in France to treat a crutch, must arrive on the same plane as them. The other two meetings against the All Blacks are scheduled on July 12 in Wellington and then on the 19th in Hamilton.
