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Guy Novès' Big Plans To Save French Rugby

By James Harrington
Guy Noves

Two new agreements brokered between the FFR and LNR look set to curb the number of overseas players in the Top 14 and return the French national side to its former glory. James Harrington explains.

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Those of a certain age may recall the glory days of French rugby with a wistful sigh, their minds running a grainy showreel featuring highlights of a bloodsoaked Jean-Pierre Rives and a perfectly balanced Serge Blanco; the silver streak that was Philippe Bernat-Salles or Thomas Castaignède doing his tongue-out chicken dance.

Younger rugby fans, however, are more likely to admit that, much like Father Christmas, they no longer believe in this mysterious ‘French flair’ their elders whisper of in awed tones. The French rugby they know is dour and staid and uninspired. Bash. Bosh. Grunt. Repeat. And, more often than not, lose.

Those who like their rugby theories neat and tidy point to the rise of the Top 14 as the richest league in the world as coinciding with the decline and fall of the national team. Yes, club squads are full of exciting imports, they say, but quality ‘Made in France’ players are almost impossible to come by.

At first glance, they have a point. Rugby fans have known for years the French national side is a shadow of its legendary flair-filled self.

But things are not that clear-cut. Coaches have come, blamed the Top 14, blamed the clubs, blamed everyone else, and gone. But it’s not as bad as Philippe Saint-André’s constant fiddling may have led you to believe.

In fact, France has a rich supply of talent at nine and 10. It has the makings of a three-quarter line with the speed and nous to scare just about any opposition you’d care to mention. And powerful, mobile forwards? That production line is running smoothly.

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The good news – if you’re French, or at least miss the glory days of French rugby – is that two halves of what has been described as a ‘small revolution’ have come together under mostly favourable stars, so that this ridiculous talent could strut its stuff on the Test stage sooner rather than later.

A historic accord between the FFR, which runs the national team, and the LNR, made up of club presidents from the Top 14 and ProD2, has allowed France coach Guy Novès to select a 30-man ‘Elite’ squad and a 20-strong ‘Development’ group. He oversees their training, game time and rest periods. He also has more time with them at key points in the calendar – November internationals, Six Nations, the next World Cup.

It would be easy to imagine Novès – who, years later than he should have done, finally took charge of France after last year’s World Cup quarter-final humiliation against New Zealand – bashing a few heads together behind the scenes to get clubs to agree to these changes.

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He could do this because, unlike previous incumbents of the hotseat at the national side’s training centre at Marcoussis, he packs a powerful influential punch in the conservative corridors of power that run rugby in France.

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That accord alone means the gnomic coach, who won four European Cups and 10 French championships with Toulouse, can begin plotting his country’s way back up the rugby pecking order.

But it’s not all. From next season, France’s 30 Top 14 and ProD2 clubs must name a minimum of 14 JIFF-qualified players in their match day squads. Those who do not reach this quota will lose points – up to 10 if they miss the mark badly enough.

In the 2014/15 season, 10 points was the difference between a European Champions Cup slot and relegation to the ProD2.

What’s JIFF, you ask? Call it a quota system if you want, but it’s typically convoluted – typically French. It stands for Joueurs Issus des Filières de Formation. Qualified players are those who have been part of a French club’s youth academy for three seasons before the age or 21, or who had been licensed to play in France for five seasons before the age of 23.

Equally, from next season no more than 16 players in clubs’ 35-man squads can be non-JIFF. That is to say, imports. Overseas players. Pension-fillers. And that’s including any medical jokers – though, crucially, not players hired as cover for those named in Novès’ Elite squad.

Most clubs support the system. Even Racing 92’s owner Jacky Lorenzetti has publicly backed the idea. Two are notable in their opposition. Toulon’s Mourad Boudjellal, who is running to be president of the LNR, has called it unworkable, while the outraged silence from Mohed Altrad, owner of Jake White’s South African player-outreach scheme at Montpellier, is deafening.

The question is: are either of them willing to risk points – and with them play-off or European places – to prove their point?

Regardless, we can expect a few out-of-contract overseas players in France’s Top 14 to start heading back home in search of a job from the end of this season.

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Trevor 41 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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