The French military rugby union team wrote a page in history this Sunday, September 10, 2023 in Vannes by winning a spectacular victory against the double Fijian title holders. In a stunning scenario which kept the 8,700 spectators at Rabine in suspense, the Blues managed to win 25-22 after extra time, thus winning the world title for the first time in their history.
After eliminating Australia, Japan, the Netherlands and even New Zealand, the French military XV found themselves in the final against the Fiji Islands. The Fijians, who had dominated the first two editions of this competition, looked in a strong position at the break, leading by 11 points thanks to two impressive tries. The return from the locker room marked the start of an incredible French comeback. Pushed by a fervent Breton public and supported by their solid defense, the French military reversed the trend. Led by their flyhalf Romain Lombard, who scored a decisive penalty at the siren, the Blues equalized, thus forcing extra time. The French managed to gain the upper hand thanks to two penalties, winning the match with a final score of 25-22.
This triumph concludes a great series for the French military rugby teams, with the victories of the women’s rugby union team the previous year in New Zealand and the women’s rugby sevens team at world level. A good omen for the French XV who are currently playing the World Cup at home?