Experimental protocol aims to limit France rugby players’ run of matches

France’s leading rugby internationals will face limits on how often they play this season under a new plan designed to prepare the squad for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

The French Rugby Federation and National Rugby League have created an experimental protocol for 33 selected players. Their identities have not been made public, but the list was drawn up by head coach Fabien Galthié in the spring.

Clubs are expected to rest the players at least twice during every sequence of eight Top 14 matches. At international level, Galthié is expected to limit them to nine match-day selections across 12 fixtures, comprising seven Nations Championship matches and five Six Nations matches.

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It is a principle of shared responsibility, and it contributes to the balance of the system.

Emmanuel Eschalier, the league’s director general, described the arrangement as “a principle of shared responsibility.” He stressed that the guidelines could be adjusted because the players have different positions, ages and workloads. Some played heavily last season, while others appeared rarely because of injuries.

A joint federation-league unit will track how the protocol operates throughout the season, including any departures from the guidelines and the reasons for them. The results will support research by an expert group preparing a report at the end of the season.

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We hope it will have a virtuous effect on better managing the workload ahead of the World Cup.