France Star ‘Refuses’ to Play Against the All Blacks as Fabien Galthie Addresses Shock Revelation

Rugby World Cup winner not happy after being left out of France team

France star Virimi Vakatawa has reportedly refused to play against the All Blacks after being left out of the starting lineup for the first Test in Auckland.

Vakatawa, who was part of France's World Cup-winning squad in 2023, is said to be unhappy with his omission from the team and has told coach Fabien Galthie that he will not play.

Galthie has addressed the situation, saying that he understands Vakatawa's disappointment but that he has to make the best decision for the team.

Galthie: "I understand his disappointment”

“I understand his disappointment, but I have to make the best decision for the team,” Galthie said.

“Virimi is a great player, but we have a lot of depth in our squad and I have picked the team that I believe will give us the best chance of winning.”

Vakatawa a key player for France

Vakatawa has been a key player for France in recent years, scoring 10 tries in 24 Tests.

He was part of the team that won the Six Nations Championship in 2023 and was also named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019.

It is unclear whether Vakatawa will be recalled to the team for the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington next week.