French Women's Rugby Shows Progress Despite Loss to New Zealand in WXV Global Series

The French women's rugby team improved their performance in the WXV Global Series but suffered a 31-12 loss to New Zealand in their second match of the tour in Whangarei on October 24, 2026. After an overwhelming 81-12 defeat the previous week, the French side demonstrated resilience by leading twice during the match and staying competitive throughout the first three quarters.

France opened the scoring through an early try by Mathilde Lazarko and later extended their lead with a try from Anaïs Grando, taking them to a 12-7 advantage at one point. However, New Zealand's Tuliau-Tuaas shifted momentum by scoring to put the Black Ferns ahead. A pivotal moment came when a try by Ambre Mwayembe was disallowed after video review, contributing to a challenging phase during which France conceded three rapid tries in the second half.

Coach François Ratier praised the team's improved execution and commitment but expressed frustration over the margin of defeat, emphasizing the need for further development and squad integration. Lou Roboam made a notable defensive impact, landing 18 successful tackles. Currently ranked 7th in the WXV Global Series, France aims to build on this progress ahead of their upcoming match in Christchurch.