LNR elect new chairman after rival concedes re-election defeat

The Ligue Nationale de Rugby has elected its new board, with Lyon OU president Yann Roubert succeeding René Bouscatel as LNR chairman after Bouscatel lost his re-election bid. Bouscatel, the former Stade Toulousain president, conceded defeat 24 hours before the final vote, as a clear majority of Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs signaled their support for Roubert.

Roubert, 47, has been president of Lyon Olympique Universitaire since 2012. Under his leadership, the club rose to the Top 14 and won its first international trophy by securing the EPCR Challenge Cup in 2022.

He was elected one of the LNR’s vice presidents in 2016 and has served on the EPCR committee. According to French journalist Tanguy Scigala, the newly elected president is focusing on the 2020 agreement between the LNR and the French Rugby Union. The salary cap and club compensation remain major sticking points and are among his top concerns.

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Although the current agreement is set to be renegotiated in 2027, Roubert has already indicated his intention to pursue several changes. He has also publicly stated that he wants clubs to implement financial reforms, tighten budgets, and balance their books. In his campaign, he cited the near-tragic situations of RC Narbonnais and Biarritz Olympique as examples underscoring the need to create a more stable financial landscape to avoid bankruptcies and crises.

Founded in 1998, the LNR saw Serge Blanco serve as its first chairman for a decade. Established to manage professional rugby in France, the league has clashed frequently with the French Rugby Union over the past 27 years. Blanco was followed by Pierre-Yves Revol, Paul Goze, and René Bouscatel, with Yann Roubert now serving as the LNR’s fourth chairman, ushering in a new era for French professional rugby.