French rugby and political leaders honoured New Zealand’s wartime sacrifice in Cambridge, reports senior writer Mary Anne Gill
At the Cambridge Cenotaph after laying wreaths and presenting a French rugby team jersey are, from left Raphaël Ibañez, Sébastien Pla, Laurence Beau, Louise Upston, Florian Grill, Philippe Folliot, Susan O’Regan and Jo Davies-Colley. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
French politician Philippe Folliot paid tribute to New Zealand’s contributions to European war efforts during a visit to Cambridge on Saturday, ahead of the All Blacks v France rugby test in Hamilton.
Speaking at the Le Quesnoy Memorial Statue, Folliot acknowledged New Zealand’s enduring support for global peace, including its recent commitment of an additional $16 million in aid to Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, he laid a wreath at the Cambridge Cenotaph, honouring those from the region who lost their lives in the two world wars.
“War is knocking on our door again,” Folliot said, referencing the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the ongoing conflict.
Honouring the fallen, from left Florian Grill, French Federation of Rugby president, Lauren Beau, Ambassador of France to New Zealand and the Cook Islands and Raphaël Ibañez, general manager of the French Federation of Rugby. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Senators Philippe Folliot (chair) left and Sébastien Pla (deputy-chair) of the France-New Zealand Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the French Sénat lay a wreath at the Cenotaph while other members of the delegation including from left Florian Grill, French Federation of Rugby president, Lauren Beau, Ambassador of France to New Zealand and the Cook Islands and Raphaël Ibañez, general manager of the French Federation of Rugby prepare to lay a wreath and present a signed French rugby team jersey.
Cambridge News 24 July 2025
Folliot chairs the French Sénat’s France New Zealand Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and had visited Parliament earlier in the week.
He was accompanied in Cambridge by fellow senator and deputy chair Sébastien Pla, French ambassador to New Zealand Laurence Beau, French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill, team manager Raphaël Ibañez, and high performance manager Jean-Marc Lhermet.
The delegation was welcomed at a morning tea hosted by Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan and Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley. Folliot described the visit to Cambridge as one of the most meaningful parts of the group’s New Zealand itinerary.
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, centre, shows the French delegation the tablets which contain the memorial rolls for both world wars. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, centre, holds the signed French rugby jersey presented to Cambridge by French Federation of Rugby president Florian Grill, right, while Senator Philippe Folliot, left, listens in. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Community board member Alana Mackay pulled the itinerary together after the French Embassy contacted her last month.
Cambridge has had a formal sister city relationship for 25 years with Le Quesnoy, the town in France liberated by New Zealand troops in the final days of World War I.
The poignant connection was renewed at a ceremony in northern France alongside Anzac Day commemorations in April at the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata in Le Quesnoy.
“It was an honour to host such an important group of people in Cambridge,” said Mackay. “That’s one of the benefits of our sister city relationship.”
Outside St Andrew’s Anglican Church, from left former French captain and hooker Raphaël Ibañez, Jean-Marc Lhermet French vice president of high performance and refereeing, Cambridge Community Board chair Jo Davies-Colley, Senators Sébastien Pla and Philippe Folliot, Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan, French Rugby president Florian Grill, French ambassador to New Zealand Laurence Beau and community board member Alana Mackay. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
O’Regan said the Le Quesnoy link was deeply moving.
“It’s a story of bravery, respect and enduring friendship.”
During the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, Ibañez -former French captain, hooker and current general manager – presented a signed Les Bleus jersey from the 2025 touring squad.
Reflecting on the relationship between France and New Zealand in Cambridge were, from left senators Sébastien Pla (deputy-chair) and Philippe Folliot (chair) of the France-New Zealand Interparliamentary Friendship Group of the French Sénat with Laurence Beau, the French ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands at the Le Quesnoy statue opposite St Andrew’s Anglican Church. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Among others present were Taupō MP Louise Upston, French Embassy staff, Heather Wellington of the Cambridge-Le Quesnoy Friendship Association and community board members Philip Coles and Sue Milner.
The two wreaths laid at Cambridge Cenotaph.
The delegation also visited St Andrew’s Anglican Church to view a stained glass window depicting New Zealand soldiers liberating Le Quesnoy by scaling its walls with ladders. They then toured the French Garden, which commemorates Franco-New Zealand ties across both world wars and into modern times.
Another highlight of the visit was to the late Fred Graham’s six-metre high sculpture, inspired by the Eiffel Tower and the silver fern. Its 43 leaves represent the Rifle Brigade soldiers who lost their lives at Le Quesnoy.
The sculpture stands on a plinth shaped like the town’s historic fortifications.
“Thousands of men and women, across generations, lost their lives in both wars,” Folliot reflected at the sculpture.
“We hoped war would never happen again.”
The delegation wrapped up its tour with a visit to Cambridge Museum and later attended the test match in Hamilton won by the All Blacks 29-19.
Florian Grill, French Federation of Rugby president, left and Laurence Beau Ambassador of France to New Zealand and the Cook Islands signs the visitors’ book in St Andrew’s Anglican Church. Photos: Mary Anne Gill
The Visitors’ book at St Andrew’s Anglican Church. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Former French captain and hooker Raphaël Ibañez, left, played 98 times for his country including the Rugby World Cup quarter final in 2007 with French Rugby Federation president Florian Grill at the Mare and Foal Statue in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
