Ooh la la: French in Hiwa!

The French rugby side plays the All Blacks in Dunedin in a test match on Saturday, having spent a couple of weeks using Hiwa as their training base.

Taking advantage of the Semester break, when there are fewer students on site, Les Bleus have been using the gym for intense training sessions, and seem chill working out alongside students in the main gym.

Toby Batchelor, the University’s Performance Sport Team Leader, says Hiwa staff ensured students come first, but that there were spaces set aside for the French XV at certain times, which included the weights area and Sports Hall 2.

He said there have been benefits to showcasing the world-class facility to elite sporting organisations who see it as top location to get their training in, and that’s how this came about.

“New Zealand Rugby was looking for somewhere for the French to train for their test match series … we got on some Zoom calls with the French rugby team and made it possible.”

Toby says the team are enjoying the facilities and will use them while in Auckland for the duration of their tour, and have indicated they’re keen to return to Hiwa next year too.

“It’s not just the athletes who are enjoying it… the students are loving it too.”

France has won their past three tests against the All Blacks, but have left most of their big names at home for this tour. But the students don’t mind.

“You see them hustling around wanting to take photos and get a few autographs, so I think it’s been cool for the student experience.”

The French players and management were also happy to have their photo taken with Hiwa staff.

“They’ve been great to deal with,” says Toby. “Just wish my French included more than ‘bonjour’!”