Top French players could feature against All Blacks as agreement with Top 14 reached
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French rugby team gets boost ahead of All Blacks clash
- France has reached an agreement with the Top 14 to allow some of the best players to join the national team for the summer tour against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
- Originally, France was expected to field a largely second-string squad due to the proximity of the Top 14 final to the Test series, which begins on 5 July.
- Under the agreement, up to five players from the two Top 14 finalist clubs can be included in the 42-man squad, provided they haven't had excessive playing time during the season.
- French rugby federation vice-president Jean-Marc Lhermet said the agreement struck a balance between sporting performance and player protection.
- Key players like Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud are unlikely to travel due to heavy workloads, while Antoine Dupont is still recovering from an ACL injury.