Summer and fall tours canceled?
“Indeed, everyone expects the July tour to be canceled. We expect federations that welcome a response in mid-May. We were going to Argentina but I have read that their borders will be closed until September. This shows that all of this will be canceled. I think that for South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, it will be the same thing. We are waiting for May 15, it seems unlikely that these tours will take place. ” (About a fall "super tour") "The question arises. Are we moving the tour from July to November? In October the northern nations would go to the southern hemisphere and, in November, the reverse. But the question that really arises is: will there always be time to travel? To me, that seems to be hugely compromised. We are waiting, we will have to make a decision at the end of June. If these tours do not take place, something else will have to be considered. But these federations need revenues, therefore matches. (…) We thought about the possibility of a second Six Nations Tournament. We must first finish this one, there remains a match for the French team (against Ireland). Why not then replay another Tournament which would allow us to have good confrontations and then recipes. ”
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The rise of two clubs in Pro D2
“We have taken note (of the opposition of the presidents of Pro D2). It is not a fight between the League and the Federation. Regarding the climbs, it creates a positive dynamic for the clubs. I would have liked to have had two clubs set up. That's why I got a rant. I wanted the clubs to decide. A letter has been sent. We will see at the beginning of the week how we will respond. In terms of solidarity, I found that good. In football, they made two descents and two climbs. We'll see. But there will be no courts, things like that. (…) I told the Pro D2 clubs that they would not be harmed in terms of TV rights. I would have liked more solidarity. There is a veto of the Pro D2 clubs, we will see… ”
"The European Cup is an interesting competition that does not generate money"
The Club World Cup project
“If this project was born, there could not be three competitions. There could not be the Top 14, the European Cup and a Club World Cup, it is not possible. I know the European Cup well, I have won it three times in a row with Toulon. For three years, I heard my president (Mourad Boudjellal) tell me that this European Cup financially does not help. It is not possible, that ... It is a competition which is interesting but which does not generate money. I understand why. Would you do Roland-Garros without Nadal, Djokovic and Federer? Would you make a European Football Cup without Madrid, without Barcelona? What makes the strength of a sporting event is when the best in the world are there. I am told: "Yes, but watch the European Football Cup ..." But all the best footballers are in Europe. Without them, this competition would not have this attractiveness. This is the tragedy of this European Rugby Cup. For rugby, a Club World Cup would be huge, I am sure. Not all the best players in the world are in Europe. The players I had in Toulon were players that their federation did not keep. You have to be honest. I think everyone wants to defend their piece of steak. I take the height, I try to be realistic and honest. This Club World Cup would generate a lot of money, not only for clubs, but also for federations and therefore indirectly for the amateur world. ”
On the postponement of the FFR elections
“We are awaiting a circular from the Ministry of Sports. We are awaiting this circular for the moment. I am a loyalist, we will comply with what we are told. ”
“I saw that measures have been taken for cafes and restaurants, this is normal. I told them that I would like it to be the same for rugby clubs ”
Support for pro rugby
“The president of the Federation is the president of all clubs, professionals and amateurs. We had a meeting with the Minister of Sports, there were presidents of Top 14 and representatives of the League. At the end of this meeting, I said to the minister: “You know, professional rugby clubs are like cafes, restaurants and theaters. If there is no audience, they will die. ” In rugby, TV rights are 20%. The remaining 80% is the public, the sponsors, what happens on the day of the match. I told them that we are in the same configuration as cafes, restaurants and theaters. I saw that measures have been taken for cafes and restaurants, this is normal. I told them that I would like it to be the same for rugby clubs. It is normal that I defend professional clubs. It's my role. They represent the highest level in France. I have a lot of admiration for club presidents. It is binding. There is passion but also a lot of constraints. ”
Screening tests before resumption?
“For the moment, the tests are intended for the business world. They are not intended for the world of sport, he said. You have to know how to prioritize things. But I think in the end we will have the necessary tests. ”
Reducing the number of replacements
“Rugby cannot be the same from the 1st to the 80th minute. When we look at the other sports, the players falter in the last 20 minutes. We have so many substitutes that, from the 1st to the 80th minute, it's often the same game. (Reducing the number of substitutes) This is one of the questions that will have to be asked. ”
The importance of amateur rugby
"First of all because I love him. I cannot accept to see him in pain. I stopped the professional, where I paid very well and where they wanted to keep me, other clubs than Toulon wanted me. I love this amateur world, I come from it. I come from Gaillac who trained me, I am very proud of it. I don't want to see this amateur world suffer. We quickly understood, at the federal office, that something was going to happen when everything was closed. The credit goes to a few elected officials who took charge of this dossier and implemented a recovery plan of 35 million euros. I am proud to be the president of the first federation to react. The club presidents told me that they had been reassured. ”
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