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Six Nations agreement reached in France to ensure no repeat of Autumn Nations Cup friction
Rugby officials in France have reached agreement on player availability for the upcoming Six Nations, an encouraging sign following last autumn’s rancour which caused friction between the FFR and the Top 14 and ultimately led to a limit on a player’s game time. This resulted in a much-changed XV taking the field a Twickenham for the final versus England.
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There will be no limit on a player’s game time for the upcoming tournament which starts away to Italy on February 6, while an agreement has also been reached on how many players Fabien Galthie must release back to clubs following training earlier in the week.
An FFR statement read: “During the first week of training from January 24 to 31 and then during each of the five weeks ending with a Six Nations match for France, 42 players will be made available to the FFR on Sunday evening until Wednesday evening.
“This includes 37 players likely to be selected for the weekend’s France match, including 28 kept until Sunday and nine made available to clubs from Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
“Five players will also be selected as ‘training partners’ after consultation with the management of the club concerned. The training partners are chosen from the clubs with a maximum of one player in the list of 37 selected for the week concerned and may be called upon in four sequences during the tournament. These players will join their club on Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
Peace accord at last in France https://t.co/JxYg0IduRQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 15, 2020
“During the weeks of February 15 to 21 and March 1 to 7 at the end of which there is no France match, the 28 players selected for the previous weekend’s match will remain together until Wednesday evening. On Wednesday evening, the FFR will designate from this group of 28 players the five players who will be made available to their clubs for Top 14. The 23 other players will be left to rest.”
It was also agreed that a top-three finish for France in the Six Nations tournament will result in a portion of the prize money being given to the LNR. FFR boss Bernard Laporte said: “The FFR thanks the professional clubs for their support. Our national team plays for all French people. It is the first showcase of our sport and all French rugby benefits from its performance.
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“In view of the imminent preparation for the 2021 Six Nations tournament, we hope that this performance partnership can meet the requirements of the international level while respecting the sporting balance of professional clubs. French rugby is never as strong as when it is united. It is in this direction that we must continue to move with the common objective of achieving the essential sporting deadlines to prepare for the World Cup in France.”
LNR president Paul Goze added: “This agreement mobilises all the clubs of the Top 14 behind the performance of the France XV. It also takes better account of the sporting balances of the clubs and allows them to gain visibility in the management of the workforce during the tournament period.”
'I have found that people see your gender before they see your opinion… people are waiting for you to trip up so they can jump on your errors'
To be a woman who talks about sport, you have to be on guard all the time – writes @_JessHayden ???https://t.co/eRgxePI8Dr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Nasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
6 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
6 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
6 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
6 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
6 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
6 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
46 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to comments