France to face Ian Foster's World XV in Bilbao
NEWS: France will take on a World XV featuring England’s Vunipola brothers Mako and Billy and Fijian centre Semi Radradra in Bilbao ahead of their tour to South America, the French federation announced on Tuesday.
The fixture will be played on June 22 at the San Mames stadium in the northern Spanish port when many of France’s top players will be involved in the Top 14 semifinals,
Former New Zealand coach Ian Foster and current Montpellier coach Patrice Collazo will take charge of the World XV, which will feature a number of players from Bayonne including former halfbacks Maxime Machenaud and Camille Lopez and prop Tevita Tatafu, provided the Basque club do not qualify for the last four of the Top 14.
“We are building an impressive squad,” Foster said in a federation statement.
“When we take on the French XV in the Basque Country, we will certainly have the ambition to put on a show of attacking rugby.”
France’s tour of South America includes two Tests against Argentina and one against Uruguay.
