A test match between les Bleus and the All Blacks provides French and Kiwi rugby fans an opportunity to switch from friends to foes for 80 minutes per year. 2024’s edition of this classic match was held at Stade de France in front of 80,000 roaring fans, and screened in front of the New Zealand Liberation Museum before dozens of equally vocal Quercitains.
The match was preceded by a special late-night opening of Te Arawhata and a guided tour by our own Lucie Bétremieux. Lucie’s tour included a focus on our temporary exhibition, “From the Field to the Front” which tells the story of the All Blacks at war.
Next, we had the pleasure of welcoming London-based Kiwi singer and Francophile, Harriet Gabrielle, to Te Arawhata. Harriet wowed the crowd with her repertoire of songs in English, French and Te Reo Māori, also receiving rounds of applause for her story of how she fell in love with French language and culture. “As a kiwi francophile it was deeply moving to connect with this remarkable history that ties New Zealand and France together after all these years”, said Harriet of her time in Le Quesnoy.
Finally, the match was on and those brave enough to stay in the cold were treated to a white-hot clash between these old rivals. When all was said and done, the French came away with the win by a single point, and the Kiwis in attendance had to admit that les Bleus were the better team this time around.
Next year, the French travel to New Zealand for three tests. A chance for Kiwi revenge, or perhaps an opportunity for les Bleus to stretch their winning streak over the All Blacks! It goes without saying that these matches will be on again at Te Arawhata, though this time the weather will be a little less icy!
