If it ended Friday with a frustrating defeat against Scotland (23-27), but an encouraging overall performance of the XV of France during the competition, the 2021 6 Nations Tournament will have been eventful for the French selection.
In question, mainly, the cluster which had ravaged the ranks of the France group and the "scandal of the waffle".
Or how an exit of French players seen eating a few waffles in the streets of Rome, on February 5, on the eve of their first match against Italy (50-10), had caused a huge outcry.
Heckled, the Ministry of Sports had reacted so that such a situation does not happen again.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, Minister of National Education, Youth and Sports, and Roxana Maracineanu, Minister responsible for Sports, had quickly demanded that the National Technical Director (DTN) of rugby, Didier Retière, appoint a manager. State "in order to apply the protocol from day to day", a kind of "Mr. Covid".
An important mission and a sign of mistrust towards the vice-president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Serge Simon, the “Covid-manager” of the FFR.
Retière, former coach of the forwards of the France team, was self-appointed, and it seems he did a good job.
Maracineanu salutes his "seriousness"
While seventeen people - twelve players and five members of the management, including coach Fabien Galthié - had been infected with the Blues, and the cluster had led to the postponement of France-Scotland, Retière was, according to our information , congratulated by the Ministry of Sports this Saturday.
Roxana Maracineanu praised her "seriousness" in the accomplishment of her mission, which allowed "to preserve the health of players, coaches and staff".
READ ALSO>
Six Nations Tournament: France fan of the Blues, Galthié and the health bubble ... what to remember from the 2021 edition
The DTN, who lived in the group for three weeks, had to "remind players of the protocol in every way, and ensure its proper application", so that the famous sanitary bubble is as airtight as possible.
The Ministry of Sports had not failed to point the finger at the small exit of the Tricolores, which had then constituted a violation of the health protocol intended to protect them from the Covid-19.
An internal investigation had been carried out.
The report on the source of contamination within the France group concluded that the health protocol had been “well developed” and “respected” by the team.
