Rugby World Cup: the All Blacks arrived by train in the capital

Geoffrey Branger / Photo credit: HANNAH PETERS / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP 20:30 p.m., September 06, 2023

The All Blacks arrived safely. Two days before the summit match between France and New Zealand, at the opening of the Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France, Aaron Smith's teammates made the journey between Lyon and Paris by train.

It is 16:08 pm when a train from Lyon arrives on platform 23 of Paris-Lyon station. On board, 33 New Zealand players ready to fight and accompanied by their staff. The Blacks were welcomed by the organizers of this World Cup, but also by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.

"I had to stop"

"This is an opportunity for us to welcome you here in Paris, in anticipation of this match which is going to be magnificent. It is a mythical team and we want, with all due respect, to tell them how happy we are to welcome them on French soil. We want this to launch 51 days of exceptional competition to make the French very happy," said the minister. Fans and supporters are not allowed to attend this arrival, but Theophile could not help it. He approached as close as possible to the dock, behind the barriers, about twenty meters, hoping to see the New Zealand colossi.

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"When I drove past and saw their bus with the New Zealand flag, I had to stop. For rugby fans, All Blacks can only be loved. This is a nation that breathes rugby. So everyone loves them, but we are behind the France team when we are French," he said. Like the All Blacks, 80% of trips will be made by train or bus, as part of a partnership with SNCF that aims to reduce the carbon footprint of the competition.