LNR President Paul Goze mobilized his troops mid-week, asking the Presidents of Top 14 to "prepare to make all arrangements" to oppose World Rugby decisions. The International Federation aims to reform the world calendar, by carving croupiers in professional club competitions. A revolt that the leaders of the English Premiership support.
An opposition front that is widening to believe the revelations of Midi Olympique in its Friday edition. The Irish federation sided with the French and English clubs. Perhaps most importantly, the international players' union has spoken out clearly against the Nations League project every year in October-November.
“ An annual Nations Cup would be too demanding for the health of the players ”
Conrad SmithThe captain of the XV of La Rose, Owen Farrell, thus expressed last Monday, during the videoconference, of his concern about the health of the players with this project of annual confrontations of the best nations of the northern and southern hemispheres. A message supported by the other representative of international players, the ex-All Black Conrad Smith. “My job is to prevent players from playing 50 games per season. A Nations Cup contested every year would not be a good idea, he told Midol . It would be too demanding for the health of players, who would be asked to play a World Cup every year. It would not be healthy. ” And to suggest that this new competition only takes place every two years.
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Significant support for opponents of this formula, with Paul Goze in mind. “This project is extremely dangerous for the Top 14. Some federations have no idea what club rugby is. On Monday, some were talking about adding two preparation matches to the eight already planned for the fall, for a total of ten international tests! Needless to say, we are light years away from this position. ”
A dismissal would precipitate the war between the clubs and the federations
The verdict, for this year 2020 only, is expected on June 30. A week later, on July 7, the thirty presidents of French professional rugby will meet in Toulouse at the initiative of the LNR. To discuss what to do if World Rugby ever ignored their remarks. An end of inadmissibility which would precipitate the war between the clubs and the federations. "But it is the future of French professional rugby that is at stake", explains Paul Goze.
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