Paris (AFP)

The president of the French Rugby Federation Bernard Laporte presented Friday the recovery plan for amateur rugby, in six phases: "We must bring the kids back to the stadium," he explained in an interview with AFP, where he hopes to see rugby again during the summer.

"We were worried because rugby is a contact sport ... We were wondering when could we start again? Would that be to make passes, even distant from each other? kids at the stadium, redoing sport, redoing rugby. But we're not going to tackle right away! ", warned the former coach.

Before thinking of tackling therefore, it will be necessary to go through a plan in six phases "whose temporality will have to be adapted to ensure the safety and health of the players, coaches and volunteers", specifies Laporte.

"We live at the rhythm of society. If it ever evolves as it does now, if the deconfinement is going well, I think we should go towards good news. Not before the end of June, mid-July. The important thing is to resume in September, "he adds.

According to this recovery plan, which AFP was able to consult, the first step is that of "player diagnosis". Before returning to training, each player must, in addition to the daily self-assessment, answer questions about their state of health.

Then comes the time for individual courses without a ball. The return to the field will be done gradually with training sessions in small groups, ten people maximum, contactless and lasting 45 minutes but not fully.

- 'If we respect this plan ...' -

Phase 3 is marked by the return of the ball, which is introduced "with hand / foot manipulation technique", specifies the program. This phase, like the previous one, is limited: "The training sessions will be done in small groups, ten people maximum, without contact and lasting 45 minutes.

Then comes the phase known as "situations with passes". Clearly, sessions by small group, of less than an hour, with collective courses and passing games. And always without contact.

The last two phases are carried out with larger groups, "to be defined according to the evolution of health guidelines".

During the fifth phase, lasting a maximum of an hour and a half, "we introduce situations of opposition through collective courses and games to touch".

Finally, the time comes for situations with contact: on the program, "collective routes, training situations and games with contact".

This entire recovery program will be overseen by a "regional Covid manager", appointed by each League and responsible for adapting the project to the regional situation.

A "departmental Covid manager" and a "Club covid manager" will also be appointed to validate plans to take over the clubs for one; to organize the reception of the practitioners and to check that the recommendations are respected for the other.

"There are things to respect, barrier gestures, sanitary measures .... There is no question of saying 'it's good, we can go!' If we respect this plan, little by little, we will move towards the practice of logical rugby, "said Laporte.

"If June 2, cafes, restaurants ... reopen, we can say that we will be able to train rugby normally. In any case, I hope!"

© 2020 AFP