Is the XV summer tour of France in Argentina planned?
Bernard Laporte: It is difficult to justify going to play at the other end of the world when the Olympic Games are postponed. It is inconsistent. But if we decide not to go, we will have to account to the Argentines. They lose TV rights, ticketing ... But we can find common ground, for example with one more game during the November tour against them to ensure that they recover a little of what 'They will have lost in July.
What would be the best solution?
There was a meeting with World Rugby on Monday and that was raised. I think there will be decisions soon, this weekend or early next week. Making a quick decision is helping our clubs. If releasing July allows them to finish the championship, so much the better. We will work hand in hand, so that everyone is a winner. World Rugby is doing an audit on the shortfall of the nations of the South, they will submit it to us and we will find the solutions. We cannot leave these countries in agony.
" End the Top 14 season?" It seems very compromised… ”
Do you think the Top 14 can resume and end this season?
I am like everyone, in uncertainty. When I see that we cancel Roland-Garros, that we cancel a lot of things ... I wonder how we are going to end. It seems very compromised ...
READ ALSO: Laporte announces that the FFR is unlocking € 35 million to help amateur rugby
You have just announced an aid and recovery plan for amateur rugby. How is it going to happen?
Given the situation, it was complicated to finish the season. There will be a shortfall for clubs, whether amateur or professional. For amateurs, we talk about the refreshment bar, the ticket office, meals during the derbies ... All that makes the richness of a club. So I asked Alexandre Martinez, the treasurer, and the general management of the Federation to work on a recovery plan to support the clubs that will be in trouble to finish the season and, above all, to start the next one. Because many of their partners will be affected economically and will have to make choices. A recovery plan for 35 million euros has therefore been established.
" It does not mean that we will write checks but that we will not collect amateur clubs "
How is this money going to benefit amateur clubs?
That does not mean that we are going to write checks but rather that we are not going to draw the clubs. For example, we will return the amounts provided in the blocking fund, that is to say the contribution of the FFR to travel costs. Then, the samples are stopped from April 1. Every month the clubs are debited in terms of insurance, licenses, transfers, administrative fines by the League to which they belong. Thus, the clubs no longer give a penny to the department, the League or the Federation from April 1. And next season, there will be no direct debits from a club to the institutions. And all that, when you add it up, it's a total of 35 million. An example: if a club charges the license for 100 euros, usually there are 50 euros for the club and the other 50 euros, depending on the level, this is called the insurance license. Until now, it goes back to federations and leagues. There, the clubs keep this sum.
Will you also be helping professional rugby?
We have signed an agreement with the National Rugby League, which, each year, must give us 5 million euros. There, we postpone them. They are told "keep your cash, you will give it to us when you have it". Me, I must first help the professional clubs so that they stay alive. It is my role as president of the French Rugby Federation. The solutions, we will find them. Do not let go of the professional world, I have to help the pros, to prevent them from dying.
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