French clubs give blessing for 5-match autumn Test window, Laporte seeks FFR re-election
French clubs have given their blessing for the France rugby federation to organise a five-game autumn Test window rather than the traditional three due to the coronavirus pandemic stoppage of the sport earlier this year.
The support from the Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs came on the same day that federation president Bernard Laporte, the recently elected World Rugby vice-chairman, declared his intention to see a second term as president in next October’s election.
There had been fears that a lack of agreement among the French clubs would derail World Rugby’s plans for an extended autumn Test window due to the postponement of the final round of the Guinness Six Nations and the July inter-hemisphere tours.
However, that tension has given way to solidarity for the French national team by its clubs whose presidents met in person on Tuesday in Toulouse for the first time since the pandemic outbreak.
A statement issued by the LNR read: “In the exceptional context of the health crisis, the club presidents unanimously confirmed that they were ready for the international autumn period to be extended to five weeks, allowing the organisation of five international matches (instead of habitual three).
“Why do you need a warm-up – it’s a game with Italy?"
– @chrisjonespress has the latest on England's latest return to action plan ??? https://t.co/0bypy0by7T
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 7, 2020
“For this international period, they have also confirmed that they are ready to renew, as part of a global agreement with the FFR, the conditions of provision put in place during the Six Nations 2020 tournament to optimise the preparation conditions in accordance of the request of the management of the France XV (42 players from Monday to Thursday, then 28 players from Thursday afternoon).
“Through this position, the LNR and the clubs of Top 14 and Pro D2 mark strong solidarity with the federations in the context of the health crisis and their mobilisation in support of the XV of France.
“At the same time as continuing the dialogue on the final international calendar for the autumn, the LNR and the clubs now want the FFR to endorse the 2020/2021 Top 14 calendar… in order to be able to calmly prepare for the coming season after six months of forced inactivity.
“The Top 14 calendar is independent of the international autumn programme: the calendar does not offer any other weekend available over the rest of the season, and Top 14 days must, therefore, be positioned each weekend in October and November independently of the international calendar.”
Meanwhile, Laporte has explained in an AFP interview why he will contest October’s French rugby election. “I waited for the general assembly on Saturday, the last preceding the election, to see what the clubs thought about it. When I saw the plebiscite we had, it encouraged me and my team to continue.
“I do not declare myself late. With what we experienced, we had to be at work with the clubs. The proof, with the stimulus plan, was a lot of work, a lot of video conferences. In addition, I was elected vice-president of World Rugby and there too it was a lot of video at the same time.
“It’s normal but I preferred to stay at work to accompany the clubs and declare myself at the last moment… we are going to continue the work. We started on 44 commitments, we made a lot. There are some that are in the process of being completed, all is not finished. We have done a lot for the clubs but we want to continue to listen to clubs and to be a federation that donates to clubs.
“I want to accelerate the reforms, that the federation is even closer to the clubs, more at the service of the clubs, that it gives them even more means. I know that emancipation goes through the clubs, that they have the means to work well.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments