Paris (AFP)
Playing six matches in the fall will "lose between 8 and 10 million euros" to the French Rugby Federation, the vice-president of the governing body Serge Simon explained to AFP on Monday.
"In the situation we are in, that is to say with a gauge of 1,000, we will lose between 8 and 10 million euros for all six matches," said the former pillar in a interview with AFP.
The FFR has formalized a schedule that will see the Blues face Wales in a preparation match on October 24 before concluding the 2020 Six Nations Tournament in front of Ireland the following week.
Then, the XV of France of Fabien Galthié will play the Autumn Nations Cup, a new competition with the six nations of the Tournament as well as Fiji and Georgia as invited nations.
So six matches in total between October 24 and December 6.
In parallel, the Top 14 will continue and the clubs, employers of internationals, as well as the National Rugby League (LNR), which oversees the competition, have agreed to go up to five matches but not one more.
The presidents met Sunday morning in videoconference, in the presence of lawyers of the League, to reaffirm "unambiguously" this point of view, the day after an exchange of letters where each camp remained on its position.
The two bodies are due to meet on Wednesday to find a solution.
"It is not the FFR which imposes six matches. The Federation voted, like the others, a multilateral agreement which wants that each one contributes its stone. There are nations which are in danger, in North as in South. With foundations and fragile economies. Some are great rugby nations but small economic ecosystems, "said Simon.
"England and France are not spared but we have a slightly stronger footing. And that's our way of participating. If the great nations dive, everyone dives," he added.
© 2020 AFP