When the French think of New Zealand, their minds skip over landscapes, lakes and The Lord of the Rings, and land squarely on the famous black jerseys of their greatest rugby rivals.
The team which would one day become the All Blacks first clashed with the XV de France in 1906 – before les Bleus had ever even played the English – and from the very beginning, the Franco-New Zealand rugby relationship was one of mutual respect and fierce competition.
Joris Vincent, former rugby player and now senior lecturer at the University of Lille, will present how early matches legitimised French rugby in a world dominated by teams from the British Empire and led to a rivalry representative of the friendly competition between New Zealand and France on and off the field.
Joris will be joined by current professional rugby player, Max Hicks, who now plays for Perpignan after playing for the Māori All Blacks and the Highlanders back in Aotearoa. Max will share his experience of the professional game on both sides of the globe, in what promises to be both an educational and exciting discussion at the Le Quesnoy Town Hall.
Practical information:
- 6:30pm, Thursday 11 September 2025
- Salon d’Honneur of the Le Quesnoy Town Hall
- 5€ entry
- Reservations recommended via info@nzliberationmuseum.com
