Paris (AFP)

The threat of a French boycott of the European Rugby Cup seems to be receding: the EPCR, organizer of continental competitions, should modify its health protocol to satisfy the Top 14 clubs, AFP learned Monday from concordant sources .

The meeting between the EPCR (the organizer) and the different parties (Top 14, English Premiership, Celtic Pro 14) made it possible to "put things back on track", according to Bernard Dusfour, president of the medical commission of the LNR and active participant in the videoconference.

"Faced with the obvious, we got in tune. We discussed, negotiated, we tried to scratch one day ... I am optimistic: they should rewrite the process. We have moved forward. The English have said + yes + , a little restrained but they agreed with us ", explained the doctor.

In question, the disparity between the protocol set up in Top 14, with a test three days before the match, and that established across the Channel, where the clubs test at the beginning of the week, explains Bernard Dusfour.

As a result, four matches (Scarlets-Toulon and La Rochelle-Bath in the European Cup; Benetton Trévise-Agen and Cardiff Blues-Stade français in the European Challenge) were canceled due to positive cases in different squads.

Another source spoke of a "constructive meeting".

"Developments will be made to strengthen the security of the protocol," she said.

The organizers of the European Cup will strengthen their protocol for the coming days and carry out tests 72 hours before the matches.

- French clubs meeting on Tuesday -

The French were therefore heard.

"The health protocol of the EPCR must evolve to provide security guarantees to the teams competing in the European Cups," said the National Rugby League (LNR) before Monday's meeting.

Engaged in the European Challenge, Rowing bayonnais, affected by the British variant of the virus after receiving Leicester on December 19, has already announced that he will not play the last two days of the competition, the 15 and January 22.

Other clubs, such as Castres, Toulon or the Stade Français had for a time mentioned the possibility of following in the footsteps of the Basques.

A meeting is also scheduled for Tuesday between the various presidents of the Top 14 clubs to discuss the subject, said another source who requested anonymity from AFP.

With a reinforced health protocol, the problem of communication between the authorities and the clubs remains to be resolved, to avoid the Toulon fiasco, which forfeited due to a case of Covid-19 in the Welsh workforce, considering himself victim of "carelessness" on the part of the organizers.

"It is not possible to learn from the press or from a player from the other team. The players are not pawns. It is not normal", rightly recalled Bernard Dusfour.

Response very soon.

© 2021 AFP