Toulouse (AFP)

"We continue to want to support the France team but we ask that the efforts be balanced," pleads the president of Stade Toulousain Didier Lacroix, questioned Thursday by AFP after the enlargement of the international autumn window despite the opposition of the National Rugby League (LNR).

Q: How do you react to the modification of rule 9, which governs the release of internationals, to extend the autumn window to 7 weeks for 6 matches instead of the usual 3?

A: "It is normal for everyone to defend their interests. To enlarge an international window because the need is there for all the Federations concerned, of course that yes. We can only listen with a certain form of solidarity for world rugby. But efforts must be balanced because today the calendar appears too overloaded. Everyone has always supported the idea of ​​allowing the XV of France to prepare for the match against Ireland in the best possible way conditions Even a fifth game because we are all aware that the France team needs to prepare well for the World Cup. But playing 11 matches in a post-World Cup year will above all overload the players' calendar. C 'is a concern for the health of the players. "

Q: The friction between the clubs and the Federation (FFR) on this subject is a recurring problem in French rugby ...

A: "Losing as many players 5 to 6 weeks, plus a weekend of rest which is still latent, is a lot. Far from us the idea of ​​returning to oppositions of principle with the France team. We continue to want to support the France team but we ask that the efforts be balanced. We must privilege dialogue, otherwise we are forced to stay camped behind a regulation and have it arbitrated as it is presented to us. . "

Q: What solution do you advocate? Limit the number of matches for each player? Return to the expanded list to 42 players?

A: "We must call the club coaches to the table of discussions with the coaches of the France team. We must put the integrity of the players at the center of the discussions. The players must play the right number of matches to The French team had wanted to prepare for the Tournament with 42 players: we will probably have to discuss this again. This can only be exceptional: we cannot do that in the fall and also during the Tournament. "

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