1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji and New Zealand

The 1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji New Zealand Tahiti was a series of ten matches played in June and July 1979 by the France national rugby union team in Fiji, New Zealand and Tahiti. The team won seven matches and lost three, including defeats to provincial teams Waikato and Southland. They drew their two-match test series against New Zealand national rugby union team, losing the first test but winning the second. The victory in the second test was France's first away victory against New Zealand, gained at the eighth attempt.

1979 France rugby union tour of Fiji and New Zealand
Summary
P W D L
Total
11 08 00 03
Test match
04 03 00 01
Opponent
P W D L
 Fiji[1]
1 1 0 0
 New Zealand
2 1 0 1
 Tahiti
1 1 0 0

Results
Scores and results list France's points tally first.
Date Opponent Location Result Score
Match 1 16 June Fiji Buckhurst Park, Suva Won 13–4
Match 2 20 June Marlborough Lansdowne Park, Blenheim Won 35–15
Match 3 23 June Waikato Rugby Park, Hamilton Lost 15–18
Match 4 27 June North Auckland Okara Park, Whangarei Won 16–3
Match 5 30 June Wellington Athletic Park, Wellington Won 14–9
Match 6 3 July Hawke's Bay McLean Park, Napier Won 31–13
Match 7 7 July NEW ZEALAND Lancaster Park, Christchurch Lost 9–23
Match 8 10 July Southland Rugby Park, Invercargill Lost 11–12
Match 9 14 July NEW ZEALAND Eden Park, Auckland Won 24–19
Match 10 16 July Tahiti Papeete Won 92–12

Test matches

First Test
7 July 1979
New Zealand  23–9  France
B. Wilson (11 – 3pg, 1c)
Wilson (4 – 1t)
Donaldson (4 – 1t)
Watts (4 – 1t)		 (4 – 1t) Mesny
(3 – 1dg) Caussade
(2 – 1c) Aguirre
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: John West (IRFU)

NEW ZEALAND: Bevan Wilson, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Lyn Jaffray, Murray Watts, Murray Taylor, Mark Donaldson, Brad Johnstone, Andy Dalton, Gary Knight, Frank Oliver (rep Wayne Graham), Andy Haden, Leicester Rutledge, Gary Seear, Graham Mourie (c)

FRANCE: Jean-Michel Aguirre, Frédéric Costes, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Mesny, Jean-Luc Averous, Alain Caussade, Yves Laffarge, Robert Paparemborde, Philippe Dintrans, Christian Colomine, François Haget, Patrick Salas, Jean-Pierre Rives (c), Christian Beguerie, Jean-Luc Joinel.

Second Test
14 July 1979
New Zealand  19–24  France
B. Wilson (11 – 3pg, 1c)
S. Wilson (4 – 1t)
Mourie (4 – 1t)		 (9 – 1t, 1c, 1dg) Caussade
(4 – 1t) Gallion
(4 – 1t) Averous
(4 – 1t) Codorniou
(3 – 1pg) Aguirre
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: John West (IRFU)

NEW ZEALAND: Bevan Wilson, Stu Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Lyn Jaffray, Murray Watts, Murray Taylor, Mark Donaldson, Brad Johnstone, Andy Dalton, Gary Knight, Frank Oliver, Andy Haden, Leicester Rutledge, Gary Seear, Graham Mourie (c)

FRANCE: Jean-Michel Aguirre, Frédéric Costes, Didier Codorniou, Patrick Mesny, Jean-Luc Averous, Alain Caussade, Jerome Gallion, Robert Paparemborde, Philippe Dintrans, Daniel Dubroca, François Haget, Alain Maleg, Jean-Pierre Rives (c), Christian Beguerie, Jean-Luc Joinel.

Touring party

Full backs

Three-quarters
  • Frédéric Costes (Montferrand)
  • Jean-Luc Averous (La Voulte)
  • Daniel Bustaffa (Carcassonne)
  • Didier Codorniou (Narbonne)
  • Patrick Mesny (Racing Club de France) – replacement during tour
  • M Duffranc (Tyrosse)
  • Laurent Pardo (Tarbes)

Half-backs

Forwards

References
  1. Not recognized as official by FFR.
  • Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. Queen Anne Press. pp. 33–38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.
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