Chambon steps up as France name third-choice captain for New Zealand tour

Alexandra Chambon will captain France on their three-Test tour of New Zealand after head coach François Ratier was forced to look beyond his first two choices. Pauline Bourdon Sansus is remaining in France for personal reasons, while Manae Feleu is prioritising her medical studies, leaving the 26-year-old scrum-half to take the armband.

Chambon, who captains club side FC Grenoble Amazones in the AXA Élite 1, described the appointment as a source of genuine pride. “First of all, a great sense of pride,” she told France Rugby. “It’s a role that naturally brings that with it. I’m also very grateful to the coaching staff for the trust they’ve placed in me.”

France will also travel without Yllana Brosseau, Siobhan Soqeta and Charlotte Escudero, meaning Ratier’s squad carries a notably inexperienced look. Chambon acknowledged the challenge but pointed to the group’s cohesion as a key asset, noting the support she expects from teammates Gabriel Vernier, Annaëlle Deshayes and Léa Champon — the latter her roommate on tour.

“I know I’ll be well supported by Gabi, Annaëlle and Léa,” Chambon said. “It makes the experience even better to share it with them. We get along really well, which will be a huge help in this role.”

The tour represents a stern examination for a France side still adapting to Ratier’s methods since he took charge at the start of 2026. In their WXV Global Series campaign, France lost 28-14 to Whitney Hansen’s Black Ferns in Lyon before beating Australia and Canada. New Zealand, ranked second in the world, suffered their first defeat of 2026 only recently — a last-gasp loss to England at Allianz Stadium — and will be motivated on home soil.

Chambon was clear-eyed about what France are targeting. “The goal, obviously, is to go out and perform well away from home against a top-four team,” she said. “We’ve shown that we’re on the right track: we learn from every match, and no two games play out the same way. New Zealand is one of the top-four teams; we are set to face them three times, so we have to find a way to beat them on their home turf. That is the goal.”