Paris (AFP)
The president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte proposed Sunday the creation of a "National championship with 12 clubs" of the 3rd division, after the refusal of ProD2 to integrate two clubs of Federal 1 after a season paralyzed by the coronavirus.
"I asked the LNR (National Rugby League) to work on an alternative which would be the creation of a National Championship with 1 clubs", explains Bernard Laporte in a press release from the FFR.
"This project should be built during the month of May, with the services of the FFR, and take into account all the needs of the clubs that will be selected on their sporting level", details the French rugby boss, who evokes a decision in June.
The presidents of the 14 clubs of Top 14 and 16 of ProD2 - the professional sector overseen by the LNR - voted on Wednesday to stay at 30, refusing the principle of climbs since Federal 1, the third national level, organized by the Federation.
The presidents of Pro D2 thus oppose a transition to eighteen clubs divided into two pools of nine mentioned by the FFR, which would have made it possible to integrate Albi and Massy, leaders of Federal 1.
"The FFR deeply regrets this refusal. It does not reflect the solidarity that rugby should express in such circumstances," said Laporte in his statement.
"This is a mistake, because it causes a gap between professionals and amateurs who aspire to become one," added the president of the FFR at the end of a meeting of the Committee of strategic orientations of French rugby.
"Our Office (federal) does not give up on the rise of these 2 clubs in PROD2 (...) legitimate and desirable," insists the former Secretary of State for Sports.
© 2020 AFP