Le Figaro. Marseille will not host the European finals as initially planned. How will you determine the stadiums that will host the semi-finals and the European Cup and Challenge finals?
Vincent Gaillard:There is no decision yet. But our choices will be based on several criteria. There will be sporting considerations but it will not be the only criterion, for sure. Whoever prevails over all the others will, of course, be the health criterion. Who can completely reverse the sporting criterion. Take the example of Leinster, ranked number 1 at the end of the group stage. To say that we will play the final in Dublin if Leinster qualifies is far from certain if, during this period, we cannot go to Ireland or that we have to play behind closed doors. We think about the best way to approach it while remaining the most flexible and the most reactive. We will wait as long as possible to see how the health situation evolves by crossing, in the end, the sports and health criteria to go to the most attractive places.
What do you mean by attractive places?
Avoid the closed door, that is obvious. We will do everything so that the final phase is disputed in front of the widest possible audience, taking into account, of course, what will be authorized during that period. If there is a second wave and the closed session is necessary, the matches will be played behind closed doors. But our goal is to avoid it.
So the highest ranked team will not necessarily receive the semi-finals?
This sporting criterion will apply, as always. The highest ranked team will have the benefit of receiving, it does not move.
" The goal is to find the right stadium with the right capacity for the final "
Even if the country of the highest ranked team requires the camera but not that of its opponent?
A priori yes. It is difficult to question an already established sporting criterion. For the final, however, historically on neutral ground, we will take into account health criteria.
The goal is first to avoid too much public migration?
That's it. Knowing that we have two finals and not just one. Or four teams and their supporters. If we play them in the same place, as was the case initially in Marseille, this generates a lot of travel. And the goal is to minimize them as much as possible.
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Will the two finals take place in the same city?
We haven't made the decision yet.
When will it be taken?
We want to be as reactive as possible with regard to health developments. So we will give ourselves time. We don't have to worry about finding a site. There will be some. The subject is not to find a stadium, but to find the best place, to decide if we will play the two finals there or not. We will wait for the results of the quarters, even the semi-finals. We will move slowly during the summer. The goal is to find the right stadium with the right capacity. And, frankly, if it is only 10,000 places when we can only play in front of 5,000 spectators, that will be fine. That is why we will wait to do the best, find solutions. And explain them.
" In any case, Toulon would not contest a possible final of the European Challenge in Marseille "
If Toulon qualifies for the final of the European Challenge, can we imagine that it will still be contested in Marseille?
Never. We are not going to play at the Stade Vélodrome because of its capacity ( 67,000 spectators ). And as we can not imagine a full gauge given the sanitary situation, the stadium is much too big ... It was however extremely good with 60,000 tickets already sold for the final of the Champions Cup and 20,000 for that of the Challenge. But we didn't want to spoil the party, to end up with 5 or 10,000 spectators in such a large stadium. We therefore preferred to postpone the finals at the Vélodrome stadium in 2021. The finals this year will therefore take place in smaller stadiums.
What about these ticket holders?
Tickets are still valid for next year. And those who want to be reimbursed will be reimbursed.
What do you say to those who believe that playing in the final phase of the 2019-2020 European Cups with the numbers for the 2020-2021 season distorts the competition?
I hear it. But we are in exceptional circumstances which require exceptional responses. And it is one. Is this ideal? Obviously not. But we are responding to an unprecedented crisis ... And I want to clarify that it is not just a financial question. Clubs and players as widely prefer it to be played out. Everyone stands to gain, including the public.
" The two-chicken scenario for next season is not the only one envisaged "
Has the format for next season been determined?
It has not yet been approved. We have made great progress with our three leagues ( Top 14, Premiership, Pro 14, Editor's note ). The scenario is well advanced. But we need the approval of all our TV broadcasters.
Is it not yet certain that the next edition will be contested in the form of two hens?
The Champions Cup will be contested with 24 teams ( against 20 usually, editor's note ), that's for sure. But the format is not yet decided. Regarding the number of hens, there is still a bit of work to do. We won't announce anything for at least two weeks. The two-hen scenario is not the only one…
24 teams, is it only for next season or is it renewable?
This allows us to respond to the complicated end-of-season conditions of our three leagues, which were struggling to qualify six teams. But this 24-team formula will only be valid for one season. It's about adapting to the crisis. On the other hand, we will test elements of this format that could last in the future. Like, for example, avoiding clashes within the same league in the group stage or even reducing the group phase in favor of an extended elimination phase with round-trip quarter-finals. Why not. But coming back to 20 teams.
READ ALSO: The final phase rescheduled from the end of September
Are you concerned about the evolution of the health situation?
We must be vigilant about a potential second wave. But there will be no reconfiguration, or it will be partial. This currently means that at a minimum, we will be able to play matches behind closed doors. But I hope there will be spectators.
What is the distribution of revenues for EPCR between ticketing, TV rights and sponsorship. Are you approaching the football model, especially based on TV rights, or that of the Top 14, which is based primarily on ticketing?
The central revenue of the EPCR is TV rights. Ticketing only concerns the semi-finals and the final. Three matches for the Champions Cup over the entire season. The rest, including the quarter-finals, goes entirely to the clubs. To sum up, it's 85% TV rights, 10% sponsorship and 5% ticketing. But if the lack of ticketing income won't break the bank, it's not just a question of money. It is also a matter of reputation.
Has the pandemic had consequences for your sponsors?
There was nothing to worry about with our current sponsors, including Heineken, by far our biggest partner. On the other hand, this slows down commercial activity with potential partners who could have joined us.
" We were already working on a Club World Cup, with an edition every four years compatible with the Champions Cup "
What is your position in relation to the redesign of the international calendar wanted by World Rugby? In particular, his desire to impose a Club World Cup every year at the expense of the European cups?
An overhaul of the international calendar is necessary. But I regret that World Rugby is advancing on this project without involving the clubs, professional leagues and, in fact, the EPCR. It seems completely absurd to me. World Rugby cannot advance on such a project at the expense of a League like the Top 14. It does not work. And it is not acceptable. World Rugby cannot ignore the colossal impact it would have on clubs… Then, concerning a club world cup, we were already working on it. With an edition every four years, obviously compatible with the Champions Cup. That is to say that at the end of the group stage, the eight qualifiers would compete in the Club World Cup instead of the eliminatory phase of the European Cup. This recurrence of every four years seems to us fundamental to maintain rarity and prestige. And not to increase cadences which, already, do not lend themselves to it for the players.
To justify this creation, Bernard Laporte, now vice-president of World Rugby, said that the European Cups did not bring enough money to clubs ...
This comment is not valid. We can say that it is never enough, that the shareholders are never satisfied. I will simply answer that the Champions Cup earns 30% more than the H Cup in its time, that is to say six years ago. Commercial income from European cups has never been higher than today. TV audiences and stadium attendance are also increasing.
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