France’s DRASTIC measures to cut costs boots backs to economy as forwards sit in comfort

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France have taken drastic measures to save money on their tour to South America but the forwards have managed to dodge the cost-cutting tactics.

Les Bleus tackle Los Pumas twice in Argentina this July with a midweek match against Uruguay in Montevideo.

Fabien Galthie and his squad of 42 arrived in Buenos Aires on Wednesday after a 13-hour long flight, which was far comfier for some than others.

Back seat for the backs

With France unable to host Six Nations games at the Stade de France this year due to the Olympics, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) was forced to stage matches at the less profitable venues in Marseille, Lille and Lyon.

This also followed poor operations management under Bernard Laporte with reports last year suggesting that the FFR would lose around €15 million for the 2023/24 financial year despite the cash injection from the Rugby World Cup.

In order to cut costs, many of Galthie’s coaching team and staff joined the backline players selected for the tour of South America in economy class for their 13-hour haul to Buenos Aires, according to a report by L’Equipe.

However, the forwards were immune to the budget-friendly seats, with the report adding that the big men were still given business-class tickets – a move 6’4″ and 149kg Posolo Tuilagi and whoever he would have had to sit next to him in economy class would have certainly appreciated.

Galthie’s charges will tackle Argentina on July 6 in Mendoza and again on July 13 in Buenos Aires, with a midweek game against Uruguay on July 10.

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The France head coach named a vastly inexperienced squad for the tour with no players from the Top 14 finalists, Toulouse and Bordeaux, making the final 42.

There are 22 uncapped players in total, with scrum-half Baptiste Serin the most experienced player with 44 caps.

Serin is likely to start the two Tests against Argentina with Antoine Dupont representing France 7s in the Olympics. He was set to start alongside Louis Carbonel, but the Stade Francais-bound fly-half has withdrawn from the tour through injury and has been replaced by Joris Segonds.

France’s July internationals squad

Forwards: Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Gaetan Barlot, Teddy Baubigny, Giorgi Beria, Ibrahim Diallo, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickael Guillard, Jordan Joseph, Thomas Laclayat, Regis Montagne, Lenni Nouchi, Matis Perchaud, Yann Peysson, Janick Tarrit, Tevita Tatafu, Killian Tixeront, Posolo Tuilagi, Florent Vanverberghe

Backs: Theo Attissogbe, Leo Berdeu, Joris Segonds, Baptiste Couilloud, Leon Darricarrere, Antoine Frisch, Emilien Gailleton, Nathanael Hulleu, Melvyn Jaminet, Baptiste Jauneau, Joris Jurand, Baptiste Serin, Arthur Vincent