Edmonton-born rugby player starts for France in test match against All Blacks

Neil Davidson · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jul 05, 2025 3:34 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Edmonton-born guardant Tyler Duguid made his debut for fourth-ranked France successful a 31-27 nonaccomplishment to the second-ranked All Blacks connected Saturday successful Dunedin, New Zealand.

The 24-year-old Duguid, who represented Canada astatine the under-20 level, qualifies for France via residency aft moving to Europe to prosecute his rugby vocation arsenic a teen with RC Narbonne.

He presently plays for Montpellier successful the top-flight French Top 14 connected a declaration moving done 2017.

The six-foot-seven, 273-pounder played for France 'A' successful a 26-21 triumph implicit England 'A' astatine Twickenham's Allianz Stadium connected June 21. And Duguid got the commencement again Saturday successful the 2nd enactment for an experimental French trial broadside missing stars similar Antoine Dupont, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos and Gregory Alldritt.

"It feels good," Duguid said aft the match, played nether a extortion astatine Forsyth-Barr Stadium.

"There was a batch of extracurricular sound saying that we'd travel out, [concede] 50 [points], we don't person the spot to play against a squad similar that. But I thought we showed a batch of tone contiguous arsenic a side."

France manager Fabien Galthie besides gave debuts to flanker Alexandre Fischer, alert fractional Joris Segonds and winger Tom Springs.

The win, which snapped a three-game losing streak against France, was the All Blacks' 500th all-time.

France and New Zealand conscionable again July 19 and 21 successful Wellington and Hamilton, respectively.

Duguid, who wrestled and played shot astatine the University of Alberta, started playing rugby for the Edmonton Nor'Westers nine and astatine precocious schoolhouse with the Harry Ainlay Titans.

He comes from a rugby family.

Brother Kaden and sister Abby person represented Canada astatine younker level portion uncles John and Luke Tait played professionally successful Europe and for Canada astatine elder level. John Tait, erstwhile manager of the Canadian women's 7 side, is presently B.C. Rugby's method director.

Tyler Duguid is not the lone Canadian to alteration planetary allegiance.

Canadian-born prop Mackenzie Carson grew up successful Abbotsford, B.C., and won 3 caps for Canada including a 2018 lucifer against England. Eligible for the Red Roses done her English-born mother, she made her England debut successful 2023.

Many others person gone the different way.

The Canadian men's grooming campy roster up of trial matches aboriginal this period successful Edmonton against No. 22 Belgium and No. 16 Spain includes players with ties to Australia, England, Fiji, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Canada is presently ranked No. 24 successful the world.