Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Are Montpellier about to be barred from this seasons Top 14?

By James Harrington
Montpellier look to be in hot water

A missing signature on a single piece of paper could leave Aaron Cruden kicking his heels in frustration at Montpellier when the season kicks off, it has emerged.

ADVERTISEMENT

Everyone knows the French love bureaucracy. As a nation, if they can tie anything up in red tape, they will. One of the few things they love more than bureaucracy is an almighty row involving bureaucracy. And rugby fans are being treated to a humdinger of the latter that, 25 days from the start of the new season, could in theory see the Top 14 reduced to the Top 13.

The problem? A single signature on one vital piece of paperwork that could leave the entire Montpellier squad – including Cruden and fellow big-name summer arrivals Ruan Pienaar and Louis Picamoles – with nothing to do and no games to play when the season kicks off later this month.

Montpellier’s billionaire owner Mohed Altrad is engaged in a long-running row with chairman of the club’s amateur section Jean-Michel Arazo. The cause of the disagreement is complicated. It started five years ago, with a row over funding for training amateur players and at one point escalated to include police involvement in allegations of ticket theft – allegations which have been described by Arazo as ‘false and defamatory’.

The enmity between the two has simmered ever since. This summer, it has boiled over again, as the new season looms large on the horizon.

Arazo has still to sign the convention that officialises the link between the professional and amateur arms that will allow the club to take its place in the French top flight. It is, under normal circumstances, an annual rubberstamping exercise that clubs undertake without fanfare or rancour.

Without his signature, and the FFR affiliation code that he holds, the club will not be allowed to compete in the Top 14. The paperwork must be completed by the scheduled kick off of Montpellier’s season-opening match against Agen, at 6pm on August 26.

ADVERTISEMENT

While club officials as well as FFR and LNR authorities expect the paperwork to be complete in good time, there is some disquiet that it has not already been filed.

There are, reportedly, even concerns that the issue could affect relations between the union and Altrad. The construction magnate is the first sponsor of the shirts of the French national side.

This is the latest in a series of background issues that have beset the club before the start of the new campaign. On July 18, the club won an appeal against a ruling that would have seen it forced to play its opening match at a neutral venue. The sanction was imposed after Montpellier was found guilty of displaying posters critical of the LNR and its president Paul Goze at the height of the controversial and ultimately unsuccessful merger between Racing 92 and Stade Francais. A related €70,000 fine was also reduced to €20,000.

All professional clubs in France must have an amateur section. These throwbacks to pre-professional days can wield enormous influence. Long before the abortive Racing 92 / Stade Francais merger in March 2017, the amateur arm of ProD2 side Biarritz halted in its tracks an attempt to merge the club with Basque Country rivals Bayonne.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 3 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.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough' Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough'
Search