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'French rugby has to crush the world… economically, we are the All Blacks of rugby'
Mourad Boudjellal has called on French rugby to get its house in order as the financial muscle that exists in the sport isn’t matched by its level of international success.
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The controversial Toulon owner failed in his bid in 2016 to become president of the LNR, the governing body of the Top 14 league.
Another election is now on the horizon. However, rather than put himself forward as a candidate in a bid to topple the incumbent Paul Goze, Boudjellal has called on the administration to start fulfilling its potential.
“For the next elections to the league, I will not show up but I will present a programme and whoever wants to pick it up will pick,” explained the comic book millionaire in an interview with French website, RugbyRama.
“I think French rugby has to crush the world. We are the All Blacks of rugby economically, we must also become sporting. For that, there are methods. We must abolish certain taboos, look for causes, stop pushing open doors and finally believe that all clubs must be similar. Uniformity has never advanced.
Le Président du @RCTofficiel dresse les contours de cette année à venir, à la fois pour son club et pour lui-même ?
> https://t.co/gV6NgzT7qS pic.twitter.com/1N3Vtr2VNU
— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) July 4, 2019
“I will propose a virtuous model that I will send to all Top 14 presidents and all LNR presidential candidates,” he continued.
“When I see that a president has had to make incredible financial arrangements to bring Dan Carter, who filled the stadiums, I think it’s a shame. I have the weakness to think that people will be clever about the reality that happens to us. Otherwise, we will not play for the collective interest.”
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Boudjellal’s particular bugbear regarding the set-up of the French league is the JIFF system that is putting pressure on the recruitment of big-name foreign players into the domestic game in France.
?Reprise des entraînements au plus prés des Rouge et Noir… La préparation de la saison 19/20 est lancée ?? #RCTFamily #TousEnsemble https://t.co/SaDGeICLVn
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) July 4, 2019
“This system is a stupidity because it totally disrupted the market,” he said. “Young people do not have to work hard for big salaries, just to be JIFF.
“A JIFF is a player of the ninth or 10th world nation and this status now allows him to win as much as an international of the top five nations. When you give a kid E15,000 just because he is JIFF, he is happy, he lives well but it kills the taste of effort.
“At the same time, the marquee player (a player whose salary does not enter salary cap) was refused, which is an insult to the broadcaster.
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“It’s as if, in football, Amiens said: ‘Neymar PSG is not on because it does not fall within our logic of equity’.
“We also have JIFFs that can represent their nation of origin. We also take kids from their country very early to make JIFF, and we have a fashion that settles in the clubs of ‘Fidjiff’.
“We finally force foreign players who have built (their careers) in France to leave simply because they are foreigners. I think there are other methods.”
WATCH: Episode three of the RugbyPass Rugby Explorer series where Jim Hamilton takes a trek through South African rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Leinster are going to win the world cup.
11 Go to commentsSuper Rugby desperately needs to lose at least 2, but up to 4 teams. Rebels quietly going bankrupt would have made that a bit easier. Teams like the Rebels and Force serve only to weaken Australian Rugby and Super Rugby more widely. In 13 years in the comp the Rebels are yet to win more games than they lose in a season, have never finished in the top half of the competition, and have come dead last a number of times. The Western Force, barring a brief stint of mediocrity under John Mitchell from 2007-2009 have been even worse. Sadly it’s hard to see a future for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Likewise I think the writing is on the wall for the Highlanders, it’s hard to see how NZ rugby can continue to support 5 SR teams, and population distribution suggests one team in the south island would make the most sense.
41 Go to commentsNice that Connor Evans is happy to stay on here, that JD Schikerling is returning and Steven Kitshoff. Dobbo is careful to bring back just anybody but having a new financial lease of life, it has made the Stormers a more attractive club. On top of being good quality, having the financial backing helps a lot
1 Go to commentsEngland-qualified too, I believe.
1 Go to commentsThis might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
41 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
41 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
11 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
41 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
11 Go to commentsWowee!
11 Go to comments