The news was bombed on Friday evening. As revealed by our colleagues from Rugbyrama, Paul Goze urgently brought together the presidents of Top 14 and those of Pro D2 today to present a confidential document that could change everything in the months and years to come. On the program: a revolution in national and international calendars all over the planet that could profoundly change the situation. And thus oblige the Top 14 and the Pro D2 to possibly start their seasons in January and no longer in September. World Rugby, which manages world rugby, would effectively take the lead and impose its conditions. But we must remain very careful as several sources have confirmed to us.
Because it is first of all a working document given to a member of the EPCR, which manages European competitions, who then transferred it to its members, including the French. “But this is not an official transmission, we were told on Friday evening. In politics, sometimes we leak to see the reaction. I think they will receive it …” “This is yet another project of modification with many possible scenarios, according to another close to the file. It is a storm in a glass of water. ” “If this working document remains as it is, it is not a good thing,” it is said, however. But when could this project be launched? From 2021? It seems compromised according to what we have been told. We should rather look to 2023, but not before, after the World Cup organized in France.
“There are several options and if the project sees the light of day, it would put all the domestic championships at the same time. The country most affected would be France, with the Top 14 and the Pro D2.” But at the LNR, it is estimated that there will be a lot more going on before this project gets under way. “We have the capacity to react,” we assure firmly. “There is zero chance that it will happen next year,” said a French leader. The French and the English should therefore go to the front and speak with one voice after having communicated this possibility unofficially today. The Leagues will also write to World Rugby before a meeting already scheduled for June 15 on the calendars.
A declaration of war?
On the other hand, a World Rugby forcing, notably of its vice-president Bernard Laporte, could be put in place in order to organize more international matches in October-November, thus ending the summer tours, while the Tournament and the Rugby Championship could be organized in the future on the same dates, in March-April. But on the French side, you don’t hear upset everything all at once. And to underline: “The proposals that are made are not admissible as they are, otherwise we endanger our championships and we almost kill professional rugby.” From the outside, however, it looks like a declaration of war with the desire of World Rugby to establish its domination over Leagues and clubs …
Obviously, according to our information, the LNR, through the voice of its president Paul Goze, reacted by creating a working group composed of presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2 to reflect on the consequences of what French rugby has learned today . In parallel, the League is studying the follow-up if this “possible declaration of war” were to materialize for the coming months. “But we have quite the capacity to counter this position of World Rugby,” we are assured. But no one intends to over-react today. Because once again, this adrenaline rush does not come from an official World Rugby transmission.
Finally, in recent weeks, we have heard a lot about CVC which has formalized its partnership with Pro 14, bringing together Celtic, Italian and South African teams, while waiting to do the same in the VI Nations Tournament. RMC Sport reports that NRL leaders have recently met with investment fund officials. This is not the first meeting between the two parties, but “it is within the framework of the ECPR”, we are told.
–
