In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, World Rugby is currently working on the various scenarios concerning the test matches planned for this summer in the southern hemisphere and is examining ways to optimize the international calendar when the situation returns to normal, said the president. of the proceeding, the Englishman Bill Beaumont. The majority of competitions are currently suspended until May.
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World Rugby said it had organized a "virtual meeting" of its executive committee to determine the way forward. "Our primary and immediate responsibility is to ensure the health and well-being of the global rugby community and to collectively support those in need," said Bill Beaumont in a statement. "In this crucial period, it was reassuring to see all the parties united by a common objective in this first discussion."
Laporte pessimistic about the continuation of the Blue Tour in Argentina
Discussions included on financial risk modeling and assessing opportunities to "optimize the schedule" to know when it is safe to resume competitions. No federation has, for the moment, canceled its July tours and Beaumont said that World Rugby is going all the possible options. The FFR has not yet officially canceled its two test matches scheduled for Argentina on July 4 and 11. But Bernard Laporte, the president of the FFR, believes that "we can hardly justify going to play on the other side of the world when the Olympic Games are postponed. It is inconsistent. ” If all tours in the southern hemisphere were to be canceled, the shortfall would be significant for the southern federations, which are already experiencing serious financial difficulties.
International calendar turned upside down
"The latest projections are that the impact of Covid-19 on public and sporting activities could extend over many weeks, even months, and this productive meeting was an important and unified step in tackling a global problem together in the best interest of all stakeholders, ”said the president of World Rugby. "We are carefully considering the scenario planning for the matches scheduled for July - if such a plan was necessary -, while considering ways to optimize the schedule of international competitions on and off the field for all when it is safe and appropriate to resume rugby activities. "
Concerning a possible cancellation of the tour in Argentina, Bernard Laporte, the president of the FFR, put forward a track: "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 Georgia, Australia and South Africa, editor's note) against them to make sure they get some of what they lost in July. ” Before playing these three fall test matches, the XV of France must face Ireland, on the last day of the Six Nations tournament postponed because of the coronavirus.
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