The clubs agree to negotiate the abolition of summer tours in favor of a Nations Cup

"If we touch the Top 14, it will be war," warned Paul Goze, the boss of French professional rugby. Who, facing the upheaval of the world calendar proposed by World Rugby (alignment of the seasons between the North and South hemispheres, start of the season in January, only six months devoted to club competitions against nine currently ...), the National League, supported by his English counterpart, presented this Monday in Dublin a minimalist counter-proposal, with just one more test in November (4 instead of 3), a Six Nations Tournament tightened over six weeks (instead of seven) for a season going always from September to June.

Inevitably, with two projects so far apart, it was highly unlikely that the two parties (the federations on one side, the clubs on the other, to put it simply) could reach an agreement at the end of the first meeting. On the other hand, it was feared that representatives of the professional leagues would turn up and slam the front door.

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According to the press release sent this Monday evening by World Rugby ( the International Federation, Editor's note ), the clash was avoided. And the really annoying decisions postponed until later. The press release thus shows the most courteous diplomacy. "World Rugby welcomes today’s commitment among key game stakeholders to continue the dialogue regarding potential adjustments to the global international calendar." Ensuring that this "forum established the bases for a constructive and frank exchange between national federations ( those of England, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Scotland, Fiji, France, Japan, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and Wales were present, editor's note ), national and international competitions ( the organizers of the Six Nations Tournament and the Rugby Championship, and those of the European Cup mainly, Editor's note ), professional leagues ( Top 14 and English Premiership at the top, Editor's note ) and players, in order to envisage an immediate and longer-term reform of the calendar by recognizing the needs of international and national rugby and improving the health of players and players ".

" All parties have agreed on a compromise solution which will allow both national and international competitions to end this year "

On the immediate side, that is to say 2020, there will be no upheaval, but a first "compromise". "As the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on the 2020 calendar and the finances of federations and clubs, all parties have recognized the need to agree on a compromise solution which will allow both national and international competitions to end this year. In the absence of full alignment, further information exchange and discussion will be undertaken with all parties regarding the viability of the proposed adjustments for the 2020 international player weekends stipulated by Regulation 9 "These adjustments will allow the postponed matches to be played in an adjusted window from October, while allowing the completion of existing club competitions."

In other words, the Top 14, as far as France is concerned, will resume well on September 4. But the clubs will negotiate an enlarged window for the fall tour to overwrite the postponed matches of the Six Nations Tournament and, perhaps, some of the tests canceled in June. Three weekends were initially devoted to international meetings. World Rugby would like six. Negotiations will continue until the verdict, June 30, by a vote of the World Rugby Council.

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So much for 2020. For 2021 and the following years, the status quo will not be in order. But here, too, a compromise could be found. Basically, the club seasons will not be aligned with the calendar years (beginnings in January) but will always start at the end of August and, on the other hand, will end at the end of June-beginning of July. A possible extension by eliminating the summer tours desired by World Rugby in favor of the creation of a Nations Cup (pools of 3 or 4 teams, semi-finals and final) in October-November

" All stakeholders believe that a major reform of the international calendar is necessary "

“The participants also committed to continue examining the detailed economic and health consequences for the players of a potential new international window moved to October and November from 2021, replacing the tests in July. This review will be done in close collaboration with professional leagues to better assess its viability and attractiveness, "said the statement, always making sure to emphasize that the positions of the Top 14 and the Premiership will be considered. Until what point ? This is what is at stake in the negotiations which will therefore continue.

But, according to the press release written by World Rugby, it seems that professional clubs are ready to make more concessions than they wanted to say. "All stakeholders believe that a major reform of the international calendar is necessary," it is indeed written. To provide an essential alignment between international rugby and clubs, with less overlap or duplication and longer rest periods for players. ” What would constitute a real revolution, and not the simple "evolution" advocated by Paul Goze.

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