France v British & Irish Lions on the cards
NEWS: The French Rugby Federation’s vice-president Abdelatif Benazzi said on Thursday that informal talks are “progressing” about a game between France and the British and Irish Lions.
The teams last met in 1989 with former Les Bleus captain Benazzi eyeing a possible fixture before the invitational touring side head to New Zealand in four years’ time.
The Lions are currently in Australia, and clinched the series last weekend with one Test to go, on Saturday in Sydney, with a reported 40,000 fans having travelled for the tour.
Before this year’s series, the Lions played Argentina in Dublin.
“It’s progressing, but nothing formal,” Bennazzi told AFP.
“Every four years we see the wave of people and enthusiasm it generates in all countries.
“A collaboration with our neighbours, remains something conceivable,” the 56-year-old added.
Rugby already has a busy schedule but financial problems exist in the sport across the planet with a Nations Cup competition set to begin next July, replacing traditional Test matches between countries.
“We have to find a new approach to be able to energise a bit of world rugby’s global image,” Benazzi said.
“We want to find a model that satisfies everyone.
“We have to reform because there’s the Nations Cup that starts next year.
“All of that will be in coordination with all bodies, the players’ union in France, the French national league, and the global players’ union,” the 78-time international added.
