The board of directors of the National Rugby League (LNR) has ratified the 2019-2020 season but has it tackled the reform envisaged by World rugby which wants to standardize the calendars worldwide?
Pierre-Yves Revol: It was not on the agenda. We talked about it at a meeting of presidents on Friday. As it stands, I am attentive. We do not know the project or the time frame in which it is likely to be implemented. You have to know the ins and outs. I hope then that we (the presidents of the professional clubs) will defend our points of view as best as possible.
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Do you understand this project?
What is surprising is that this subject of standardization comes up on the carpet so quickly, in emergency conditions when these are fundamental reforms requiring serious appreciation and hindsight.
Castres set an example by signing the first wage reduction agreement (15% for the players, 20% for the staff). Will this be sufficient if the recovery takes place behind closed doors or with a limited gauge?
We considered that the hypothesis that we should retain is a recovery in September with the support of our audience. If this is not the case, beyond the CO, all rugby pro will face new difficulties. TV rights represent only 15% of our budget. We cannot sustainably carry on our activity behind closed doors. We would have to adopt certain measures. That we were the first shows that Castres retains its very strong spirit of solidarity. It's good that the players participated in the effort.
“We are the country that pays the best players. And we have no objective reason to do so ”
Few clubs have followed your example ...
It may take a little longer elsewhere. Clubs may also be waiting for a little more visibility. Like the players. Everyone is trying to manage the crisis as best they can.
Before this pandemic, you were already talking about lowering the salary cap of the Top 14 clubs. Do you advocate this reduction more?
Yes, I think it all the more. We can lower the overall payroll of clubs because we are the country that pays the best players. And we have no objective reason to do so insofar as competition is limited, only in England, where the salary cap is lower than ours (7 million pounds or 7.9 M €, and two "marquee players "not included in its calculation). We do not have Spain, Italy as our adversary ... We must set our salary cap at the level of the English, only weighted with social charges and taxation.
“There may be slightly fewer players in each club. This does not mean lower wages for all players ”
Has this pandemic highlighted the need for reform?
The crisis has highlighted in rugby as in other activities a certain fragility, certainly relative because there has been no bankruptcy for ten years. Many clubs are unable to overcome a difficult and unexpected period.
Will the players accept this decrease in wages?
They are not affected individually. The salary cap is a lump sum. It is a redistribution of the wage bill. There may be slightly fewer players in each club. This does not mean lower wages for all players.
President Revol has long spoken little. Why is it more present? Because he aims, as it is rumored, for the presidency of the LNR?
I just answered some requests. A number of my colleagues have asked me. I do not know when the elections will take place. They have not yet been fixed. We'll see it quietly in due course. For the moment, it is not a priority.
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