Federation and League oppose the provision of internationals, as part of the international autumn window exceptionally widened by World Rugby in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a four-page letter, titled "Regulatory Reminders", FFR President Bernard Laporte wrote to the Top 14 Presidents explaining that, according to point 32 of World Rugby Rule 9, "if a player does not is not released (...) said player will not have the right to play for any organization or rugby club during the period during which he has or should have been present within the national team ”and this, for “Plus 10 days after said period”.
The boss of French rugby goes on to add that clubs that do not release their players could also be penalized (loss of points, fine, exclusion ...).
"It is not a question of posture but of law and reason", adds Bernard Laporte.
Earlier in the day, Paul Goze, the president of the LNR had written to his counterpart from the FFR, explaining that the summons of 31 players by Fabien Galthié to prepare for the match against Wales, on October 24, had taken place " outside the period of provision provided for by agreement ”and therefore“ null and void ”.
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XV of France: the Council of State rejects the request of the League but the impasse continues
Monday meeting?
In this first letter, the National Rugby League had proposed a new conciliation meeting to the French Rugby Federation for Monday, around the conflict between them over the autumn matches.
"It seems urgent to me that the FFR-LNR strategic committee meet, from Monday morning, to discuss the changes that may be made to the agreement in the context of autumn 2020", writes the president of the LNR.
Club presidents will meet on Sunday morning to "discuss the process to follow now," a source familiar with the matter told AFP.
Friday, the Council of State, seized by the League, had returned the two instances back to back, believing that a change in the number of matches of the XV of France can not be done without the common agreement of both parties but also, and above all, only after modification of the convention which binds them.
In question, the number of matches played by the Blues in the fall.
While World Rugby has extended the international window from three to seven weeks (October 24 to December 6), the Federation insists on playing six matches during this period, one more than the League wants.
Coach Fabien Galthié announced Wednesday his list of 31 players called up for the match against Wales.
The Blues are supposed to meet in Marcoussis from Monday, October 19 to prepare for the first of six matches officially announced by the FFR.
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XV of France: the Council of State rejects the request of the League but the impasse continues
