The Presidents of the Top 14 voted unanimously to extend the fall 2020 international window by two more games, for a total of five weeks. But it remains one less than the French Rugby Federation wishes.
The threat of the FFR
According to the agreement signed between the Federation (FFR) and the League (LNR), the XV of France must indeed play three games in November: against Georgia on the 7th, Australia on the 14th and South Africa on the 21st But this tour seems compromised due to restrictions imposed in the southern hemisphere.
To cope with the crisis linked to the pandemic, the FFR intends to extend the international window to six meetings (Scotland twice, Ireland, England, plus two other nations to be defined) and refuses to validate the schedule for the Top 14 2020-2021, currently under study, as long as its proposal has not been accepted, thus depriving clubs of their commercial operations (subscriptions, ticket sales, special packages, etc.).
The staff of the XV of France reduces their salary by 10% for a year via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/OLvBQMUum3
- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) May 28, 2020The FFR project, which has yet to be approved by the World Rugby Council, would allow the Federations to replenish their coffers but would also deprive the clubs of their internationals for 52 days from October 11. “There is a balance to be struck between favoring one without disadvantaging the other too much. This point of balance was found with, exceptionally, two more international matches in the fall of 2020, "explained the president of the League Paul Goze to AFP.
“For the health of international players, for the financial balance of the clubs and the FFR, this is the best compromise possible. We hope that this proposal will lead to a rapid agreement, ”he added. Thus, the counter-plan of the League would allow the Blues to play five games, including the last day of the Six Nations Tournament against Ireland at the Stade de France, over five consecutive weekends, from October 31 to November 28 .
The internationals, showcases for clubs to leave after the crisis
"After six months without resources, the clubs need to find their public and their partners by the resumption of the championships in September" (the first day of the 2020-2021 season is scheduled for September 4), we explain from the side of the NRL.
“Almost 70% of their resources depend on their ability to find their subscribers, fill the stadiums and retain their partners. Extending the availability of internationals and validating the concomitance of more Top 14 days with matches by the France team will penalize the championship, ”explains another source close to the matter.
"Solidarity must work in both directions"
Because two additional games, that's as many Championship / national team duplicates without internationals for the clubs (from the 5th to the 11th day for the Top 14, plus the European finals, according to the FFR planning project). Toulousain Antoine Dupont has only spent 52 minutes on the lawns of the Top 14 this season, between the World Cup in Japan, the Six Nations Tournament and a back injury.
The elite clubs deplore having to do without their best players for "ten international games over twenty-one weekends" with this fall tour project carried by the FFR and the Six Nations Tournament 2021, scheduled from February 6 to March 20. “Solidarity must work in both directions. French rugby is based on a fabric of professional clubs whose economic and sporting health is essential ”, moreover abounds Goze.
The clubs have also activated the provision of internationals according to the principle that was in place during the 2020 Tournament and desired by the coach Fabien Galthié: the XV of France will be able to benefit from 42 players to prepare its meetings, the group being reduced to 28 every Thursday. For how many matches?
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