Dublin (AFP)
There will be no global calendar in 2020. The players of world rugby, meeting in Dublin on Monday, have decided to continue their reflection on the international calendar, announced World Rugby, which will decide on June 30 on the number of international matches of autumn.
"World Rugby welcomes the commitment made between the main stakeholders of the game to continue the dialogue concerning the potential adjustments of the international world calendar", according to the press release published Monday, which specifies that a final decision on the 2020 calendar will be taken "June 30 by the World Rugby Council".
At the invitation of the governing body, the six nations of the Tournament, the four of the Rugby Championship, the British and Irish Lions, the organizer of the EPCR European Cups, the three European leagues (Premiership, Top 14 and Pro 14 ), were in fact brought together by videoconference to start discussions around a necessary redesign of the calendar.
"As the Covid-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the 2020 calendar and the finances of federations and clubs, all parties have recognized the need to agree on a compromise solution which will allow both national and international competitions to end this year, "added the press release.
"In the absence of full alignment, further information exchange and discussion will be undertaken with all parties regarding the viability of the proposed adjustments for the 2020 international player weekends stipulated by the article 9 (on the provision of the players, note) ", explains World Rugby, which estimates that" these adjustments will make it possible to play the postponed matches in a window adjusted from October while allowing the completion of club competitions existing ".
In a press release sent to AFP, "the LNR and the Premiership regretted during the meeting being presented with a fait accompli, without prior consultation".
"The LNR and the Premiership consider that this meeting must be the beginning of the negotiation process which must respond to the challenges of world rugby without sacrificing professional rugby and the edifice of French rugby. (...) Regarding the calendar of the season next, The LNR and the Premiership oppose a hasty modification of article 9, while remaining open to exchanges with the federations by mutual agreement to reinforce the number of international matches from 2020 and in response to the exceptional situation of the Covid-19 ".
In the fall, the Blues could thus catch up to three matches, against Ireland (Six Nations Tournament) and two against Argentina (July tour), before facing Australia, South Africa and Georgia.
© 2020 AFP