One would have thought that the dramatic situation that France is going through, its heavy economic repercussions to come on world and hexagonal rugby, were going to push for a sacred union. But the French oval preferred to remain faithful to his (bad) habits and each to work behind the scenes for his own interests. Each president of the Top 14 preaches for his parish. Then all are rebiboché at the idea of profiting from it to decrease the wages of the players… But, above these pichroolines quarrels, a true combat of the chiefs resumed of more beautiful. On the one hand, Bernard Laporte, president of the French Rugby Federation and probably future vice-president of World Rugby (he forms a ticket with the outgoing president, the Englishman Bill Beaumont, for the elections in early May). On the other, Paul Goze, president of the National Rugby League which directs, by delegation, professional rugby (Top 14 and Pro D2). The first, jealous of the financial power of the second, keeps trying to assert that there is only one boss: him. So he advances his pawns to take the hand. A videoconference meeting is scheduled for Tuesday to try to resolve the differences. And determine the outcome of the three battles for a war of the chiefs.
Club World Cup
The first battlefield totally involves the Top 14 clubs. On Monday, in Midi Olympique , Bernard Laporte (re) launched, with the consent of World Rugby, the idea of a Club World Cup. An annual tournament in which the boss of the FFR would participate "the semi-finalists of the Top 14, those of the English championship, the first six of Super Rugby, the first four of the Celtic League, the champion of Japan and that of the United States " Which means de facto the disappearance of the European cups. "It is certain, yes, if we do not want to overload the calendar a little more. (…) But let's be frank: the European cups do not generate enough income. If we want to develop this Club World Cup, we have to find dates. Without the Champions Cup, nine weekends are available. ” And to assess, between ticketing, derivatives, television rights, partnerships and sponsorship, spinoffs of the order of 300 and 500 million euros per edition. “We have to create this competition and very quickly. It could be a breath of fresh air for the whole of world rugby, ”said Laporte impatiently.
" I can't understand that we can talk about this kind of subject at the moment ... "
Paul Goze, president of the LNRPaul Goze chose L'Equipe to respond. And press the brake pedal with all its weight. “The subject will come back in a few months, when the health crisis is behind us. But there too, it is very complicated: such a competition can only be done with 3 or 4 clubs per country. It will necessarily last several weeks, so what would the non-qualified do during this time? It is not easy to organize and we must be vigilant about the side effects on other clubs, on the National Championships as well as on the European Cup. I can't understand that we can talk about this kind of subject at the moment, when we have more urgent problematic subjects to deal with, that the priority is to secure the current organization, our championships, our clubs , who are hit hard. "
The super November tour
On this subject too, Bernard Laporte, and therefore World Rugby, were the first to launch the offensive. The June tour under threat of cancellation, that of November which could be shunned by the nations of the southern hemisphere, the solution would be all found: a great fall tour. The last day of the Six Nations Tournament, then the test matches in June and then in November. Or two months of international competition in October-November 2020. According to a format to choose: either round-trip meetings, or all the tests in Europe but with equitable sharing of the receipts. Obviously, two months without competition for the clubs, Paul Goze said niet right away. Attracting this unequivocal response from Bernard Laporte in the columns of La Provence. "Who is the boss of world rugby? Is it the National Rugby League and the Top 14? Suddenly, there are no questions to ask about this… ”
" Who is the boss of world rugby? Is it the National Rugby League and the Top 14? "
Bernard Laporte, president of the FFRThis did not prevent, still in the columns of L'Equipe , the president of the LNR, from reiterating his opposition. "I understand the problems facing the federations during this period and it is World Rugby's responsibility to manage the situation with them. But they must also take into account club competitions because, in the end, there is only one calendar. I therefore await a dialogue and a search for balance. Domestic competitions cannot in any case be the variable of adjustment of the world calendar. ”
Two accessions in Pro D2
This time the battle is national. The League unanimously affirms its wish to remain at 30 professional clubs (14 in Top 14, 16 in Pro D2) next season. The response does not wait. 48 hours later, the FFR requires the rise of two Fédérale 1 clubs (in this case Albi and Massy, the best ranked during the suspension of all amateur competitions). “The club presidents have cast a very clear vote in wanting to stay at thirty so as not to overload the calendar. (…) And we must be careful not to add additional financial problems to a situation which is already very serious by widening the professional sector to two more clubs, replies Paul Goze in the sports daily. From the moment that no club is relegated because they did not defend their chances fairly, the same reasoning should, I think, apply for the climb. "
" There is a difference between the management of all amateur rugby and the interface with the professional world "
Paul Goze, president of the LNRAnd to explain the position of the League. "The multiple costs involved in these increases would not be offset at all by the two receptions of graduates of Federal 1 who are not among the best recipes of the season." Without forgetting, he recalls, that the TV rights of Pro D2 (20 M € per year) had to be divided into 18 parts and no longer 16. Monday, on RMC, he added a small spade towards his counterpart at the head of the FFR. “There is a difference between the management of all amateur rugby and the interface with the professional world. The consequences are not at all the same. ”
The XV of France, collateral victim?
This winter, for the debut of coach Fabien Galthié, common ground had finally been found between the FFR and the LNR for the good of the XV of France. Professional clubs had agreed to leave 42 players available, including 28 full-time. A breakthrough that Galthié and the manager of the Blues, Raphaël Ibanez, have constantly emphasized, thanking the Top 14 clubs on numerous occasions for their contribution. But this agreement was only validated for this Six Nations Tournament. Discussions were to take place to consider their sustainability. Not at all sure that the presidents of the Top 14 will be as understanding and generous if the boss of the FFR continues to impose his views on them, to weigh down for the benefit of World Rugby an already overloaded calendar.
" I am for appeasement "
Bernard Laporte, president of the FFRIt is perhaps this threat which pushed Bernard Laporte to be more conciliatory Monday at the microphone of RMC Sport on the subject of the two climbs in Pro D2. “We are going to have discussions with the National Rugby League ( this Tuesday, note ). And I will tell club presidents that this is a moment when solidarity is needed. It would be nice to respect these climbs, but that nobody is financially injured and that the clubs lose TV rights. (…) What I want is that we find common ground. I am for appeasement and that we find a coherent solution together. If the majority does not want, we will not do it. We will get along, I am convinced. ” True white flag or new trick to surprise the other side and win the chiefs fight?
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