Arnaud Coudry and David Reyrat
According to our information, the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced on Monday to Pro D2 clubs that there would ultimately be no rise since Federal 1. Bernard Laporte wanted RC Massy Essonne and Sporting Club Albigeois go up to the upper floor despite the end of the season which has been definitively suspended. But this project had raised the incomprehension and the refusal of the League (in charge of rugby pro) and of the sixteen presidents of Pro D2, unanimous in the rejection.
The president of the FFR, in charge of amateur rugby (and therefore of Federal 1, the 3rd division) proposed that the Pro D2 welcome, during one season, two more clubs with a modified championship formula: two pools of 9 and no longer a single hen. A proposal which had provoked, Saturday, a muscular exchange between the presidents of the two institutions.
" The sixteen clubs speak out unambiguously on the maintenance of the sporting and economic model which has enabled the Pro D2 to be recognized as an attractive championship "
The question was to be raised again and decided on Wednesday, at a meeting of Presidents of Pro D2. But they have outstripped the debate by sending a letter, revealed by AFP , in which the 16 bosses of second division clubs decide "unambiguously and unanimously" on the maintenance of Pro D2 to sixteen teams. "Unanimously, the sixteen clubs speak out unambiguously on the maintenance of the sporting and economic model which has enabled the Pro D2 to be recognized as an attractive championship," explains this letter from the union of professional clubs. Today, like all of their partners and supporters, they are facing an unprecedented crisis; maintaining the current format must be obvious in this context. ”
This united front, the economic difficulties of professional rugby and the upcoming discussions between the FFR and the League to place six or seven international matches for the XV de France next fall (instead of three) apparently convinced Bernard Laporte to give up trying to push through with your project.
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