French Professional Rugby Cites Council of State Ruling in Dispute wiht National Federation
Paris – French professional rugby clubs are invoking a 2020 decision by the council of State to resist demands from the French Rugby Federation (FFR) regarding player availability for international matches, escalating a growing standoff between the two governing bodies. The dispute centers on the FFR’s attempts to extend the period and number of matches for which national team players are available, a move the League nationale de Rugby (LNR) argues would jeopardize club finances and player welfare.
The Council of State’s prior ruling established that “the internal regulations of the structure called World Rugby do not produce direct effect in national public law,” and that changes to player availability require “mutual agreement by the authors, the federation and the League.” This precedent effectively prevents the FFR from unilaterally imposing expanded obligations on clubs. The LNR maintains that any increase in international player commitments necessitates a renegotiation of the agreement between the FFR and the League, a process requiring joint consent.
The FFR, led by Florian Grill, had signaled a willingness to enforce expanded player availability if negotiations with the LNR stalled. However, the LNR has warned it would likely challenge any such unilateral action with a renewed appeal to the Council of State, anticipating a similar outcome to the 2020 case. The LNR previously argued that unilateral FFR decisions “cause excessive harm to the economic interests of professional rugby and threaten the sustainability of certain clubs as well as the health of players, exposing them to a very significant risk of injury.”
The current impasse threatens the scheduling of future international competitions and the financial stability of French rugby clubs. The outcome of this dispute will determine the balance of power between the FFR and the LNR, and ultimately impact the availability of top players for both national team duties and club competitions. TF1 recently secured broadcasting rights for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and a majority of French national team matches through 2029, adding further commercial weight to the stakes.
