Antoine Dupont with a T. -

ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP

French rugby league and federation had an appointment Monday to discuss their disagreement about the calendar of the XV of France.

If the FFR has remained firm on the six dates of the fall, it has shown itself ready to make concessions (namely five games maximum for French internationals), AFP learned from a source close to the matter.

On Monday, the Federation and the League negotiated at length around the dispute concerning the availability of internationals in the fall: the Top 14 clubs agreed to release the players for five games during the autumn international window (24 October - 6 December ), or one less than announced by the FFR.

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The Federation has indeed published ten days ago a calendar for the XV of France which includes six matches, according to the calendar decreed by World Rugby.

Shortly after, the Top 14 clubs voted unanimously to refer the matter to the Council of State.

Fabien Galthié's Blues must play a preparation match on October 24 against Wales and then host Ireland in their last match of the 2020 Six Nations Tournament, on October 31, before playing four other matches as part of the Autumn Nations Cup, an eight-team competition launched this season.

Top 14 clubs discuss

Monday's conciliation meeting between the two bodies therefore ended with proposals from the Federation, which must be discussed by the Top 14 clubs. According to a document that AFP was able to consult, the FFR thus proposed to "Capping, in agreement with the coach, the selection of French internationals to five game sheets".

In addition, a player not selected in the group would be "made available to his club for the full week".

The whole group would also be released for the week of November 7, an international rest week which corresponds to the 8th day of the Top 14.

Finally, the staff of the Blues undertakes that "the players are not retained by the XV of France during the week of preparation for the first match of the tour", in the event of qualification for the European finals, scheduled for October 17.

The players of Toulouse, Racing 92, Bordeaux-Bègles and Toulon, still in the race for the European semi-finals, are therefore concerned.

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