1994 France rugby union tour of Canada and New Zealand

The 1994 France rugby union tour of Canada and New Zealand was a series of matches played in June and July 1994 in Canada and New Zealand by France. After an unexpected loss to Canada, France became the first Northern Hemisphere nation to win a test match series in New Zealand.

France also became the fifth team after the 1937 Springboks, 1949 Wallabies, 1971 British Lions and 1986 Wallabies to win a test series in New Zealand.

Matches Scores and results list France's points tally first.

Opposing Team For Against Date Venue StatusCanada A34311 June 1994TorontoTour matchCanada16184 June 1994NepeanTest matchNorth Auckland28239 June 1994WhangāreiTour matchNorth Harbour232712 June 1994AucklandTour matchWaiparapa Bush53915 June 1994MastertonTour matchNew Zealand B332518 June 1994WanganuiTour matchNelson Bays481622 June 1994NelsonTour matchNew Zealand22826 June 1994Lancaster Park, ChristchurchTest matchHawke's Bay253029 June 1994McLean Park, NapierTour matchNew Zealand23203 July 1994Eden Park, AucklandTest match

Highlights The 22–8 victory on 26 June was the biggest win by France over New Zealand up to then. In the second test, on 3 July, New Zealand led 20–16 with three minutes of the match remaining. As they tried to run down the clock, Philippe Saint-André started a move in his own 22 which, 65 seconds later, ended with Jean-Luc Sadourny crossing the New Zealand line to score what became known as (the try from the end of the world), giving them a 23–20 victory. It was the first time a side from a northern hemisphere nation had won a test series against the All Blacks.

Touring party

Backs Sebastien Viars Jean-Luc Sadourny Emile Ntamack Philippe Saint-Andre Laurent Leflamand William Techoueyres Philippe Sella Philippe Carbonneau Yann Delaigue Thierry Lacroix Christophe Deylaud Benoit Bellot Pierre Montlaur Guy Accoceberry Alain Macabiau

Forwards Sylvain Dispagne Leon Loppy Xavier Blond Marc Cecillon Abdelatif Benazzi Jean-Francois Tordo Philippe Benetton Olivier Brouzet Olivier Roumat Olivier Merle Christian Califano Laurent Benezech Laurent Seigne Louis Armary Jean-Michel Gonzalez

References

Further reading