Nextflow version check happens after loading the plugins

[maxulysse]

Bug report

Manifest has (cf https://github.com/nf-core/rnavar/blob/dev/nextflow.config#L349)

    nextflowVersion = '!>=25.10.0'

Yes I can see this when I run on 25.04.8, when I would expect the pipeline to stop

Nextflow 25.10.0 is available - Please consider updating your version to it
N E X T F L O W  ~  version 25.04.8
Pulling nf-core/rnavar ...
 downloaded from https://github.com/nf-core/rnavar.git
Launching `https://github.com/nf-core/rnavar` [nostalgic_morse] DSL2 - revision: 9bcf75c395 [dev]
Downloading plugin nf-schema@2.5.1
Downloading plugin nf-core-utils@0.4.0
ERROR ~ Plugin nf-core-utils with version @0.4.0 does not exist in the repository

Error is misleading and due to the fact that this plugin minimal Nextflow version is 25.10.0.

Expected behavior and actual behavior

I would expect the pipeline not to start, and after talking with @bentsherman we believe it's caused by the fact that this version check happens after the plugins are loaded.

Steps to reproduce the problem

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Program output

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Environment

• Nextflow version: [?]
• Java version: [?]
• Operating system: [macOS, Linux, etc]
• Bash version: (use the command $SHELL --version)

Additional context

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