New Zealand agree to keep 2025 France tests at home

Following France's refusal to play one of their three July 2025 tests against the All Blacks in the USA, all three games will be in New Zealand, New Zealand Rugby said Monday.

New Zealand wanted to play the last of the three tests in the USA.

The All Blacks faced Fiji last July in San Diego, and Ireland in 2016 in Chicago, when the Irish beat the All Blacks for the first time.

New Zealand are due to face Ireland in Chicago again as part of next autumn's northern hemisphere programme

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) last week refused to play in North America. They were concerned about "the players' health", federation boss Florian Grill told AFP, citing, in particular, the double time difference.

The first match will take place on July 5 at Dunedin, where the last French tour of New Zealand ended in 2018. The second will be in Wellington on July 12, and the last on July 19 in Hamilton, where the French have never faced the All Blacks, although they lost to Waikato there in 1961.

The series is skipping Auckland's legendary Eden Park, where they clinched the 1994 tour after winning the first test in Christchurch.

Les Bleus are on a three-game winning streak against the New Zealanders, the most recent victory, 30-29 was in November at the Stade de France.

France players who represent either of the clubs who reach the Top 14 final on June 28 will not be taking part in the tour.

Some of Les Bleus' key players will also be rested, even if they don't play in that final.