No rugby before, at best, the end of summer. The National Rugby League (LNR) announced Wednesday the abandonment of its scenario of resumption of the final phase of Top 14 in mid-July and the cancellation of the semi-finals scheduled in Nice in June. "After taking stock of the situation, in particular on the work in progress of the medical commission on the recovery protocol and of the sports commission on the delays in re-athletics and preparation, the steering committee of the LNR decided to abandon of scenario 1 of organization of the final phases of the Top 14 from the end of June until mid-July ", said the LNR in its press release.
The final phase at the end of summer
So there remains scenario 2, that of a final phase of four at the end of summer: Bordeaux-Bègles against Toulon and Lyon against Racing 92 in half, before a grand final at the Stade de France. For now, it is supposed to take place just before the 1st day of the 2020-2021 season.
Due to a re-athletic period required for players, and estimated to be between eight and twelve weeks, the 2019-2020 Top 14 should not be able to end before September, depending on the containment release dates. "As a result, the semifinals of the Top 14, initially scheduled for Nice on June 19 and 20, 2020 are canceled", adds the authority, which promises to return to the Côte d'Azur "in a next edition". According to a source familiar with the matter, it would not necessarily be during the next season but probably later.
The extended summer transfer window
"In any case, it is the Ministry of Sports who will say 'yes, you can go' or 'no, you cannot'," explained Bernard Dusfour, president of the medical commission of the LNR.
"If we have reliable tests that allow us to say that this player is not contaminating, it will be a good thing. As long as we do not have this certainty that the players cannot contaminate themselves, it does not will not happen, "he added.
The summer transfer window will also be extended until July 15 "to allow the clubs of Top 14 and Pro D2 to have greater latitude in the constitution of their membership".
No withdrawal of points for clubs lacking players trained in France
Finally, the League has decided to soften its rules concerning the "Jiff" (players from training courses, that is to say trained in France) by not withdrawing points for the current season from clubs that have not not averaged 16 Jiff on the scoresheet. Clermont and Biarritz in Top 14, Rouen and Valence-Romans in Pro D2 were concerned.
The LNR has finally announced the cancellation of the three summer stages of Super Sevens, its rugby sevens competition. "The LNR intends, however, to maintain a unique event stage during the 2020-2021 season, with the prospect of resuming competition in the format provided (3 classification stages and 1 final stage) from the 2021-2022 season, "also specifies the League.