Romain Ntamack ‘dreams’ of playing the All Blacks and is willing to give up possible Top 14 final
France fly-half in action against the All Blacks in 2021.
After being crowned 2025 Six Nations champions, France have turned their attentions to their highly anticipated three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand in July.
Les Bleus finished their Six Nations campaign in style courtesy of a 35-16 victory over Scotland at the Stade de France on Saturday and their focus now switches to the challenge of facing the All Blacks in their backyard.
A series between France and New Zealand would ordinarily generate huge interest. Both teams are ranked amongst the top-four nations of the World Rugby rankings and usually compete with South Africa and Ireland to be considered the best side on the planet.
Late last year it was announced that the French Rugby Federation and the National Rugby League reached an agreement over the release of their players for the 2025 matches.
Players from Top 14 finalists to miss New Zealand tour
It was confirmed that France’s players who make the final of the Top 14, which is scheduled for late June, will miss the tour to New Zealand.
Toulouse, who have Les Bleus stars like Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos and Francois Cros in their ranks, are currently the Top 14’s table-toppers while Bordeaux-Begles, where the likes of Damian Penaud, Yoram Moefana and Maxime Lucu ply their trade, occupy second spot.
A player who is certain to miss out on the series against the All Blacks is Ntamack’s half-back partner Antoine Dupont, who is sidelined for more than six months with a serious knee injury sustained in France’s Round Four Six Nations triumph over Ireland.
Ntamack admitted that facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is something which he hopes to achieve during his career.
“I don’t know what’s exactly possible or not, if those in the final are allowed to go to New Zealand,” the fly-half told reporters after the victory over Scotland on Saturday.
‘It will obviously be a pleasure’
“It’s my dream to play there so if I’m lucky enough to go, even if the club are in the final, it will obviously be a pleasure.”
News of the Top 14 finalists being ruled out of France’s series against the All Blacks has left New Zealand Rugby reportedly aggrieved at the prospect of not having some of France’s leading players included in Les Bleus head coach Fabien Galthie’s squad for that tour.
Matches between France and New Zealand usually generate lots of hype and the previous three-Test series between the nations saw the All Blacks clinching a 3-0 victory in 2018.
However, Les Bleus have dominated the fixture in recent years as they have won the last three Tests between the teams including a pool match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Ntamack admitted that he wouldn’t mind going on the tour to New Zealand whether Toulouse reach the Top 14 final or not.
“Maybe there’s an exception to be done with the tour because it’s quite exceptional to go and play in New Zealand,” he said.
“Final or no final, if I go it will be a pleasure because tours of New Zealand are unique.”
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