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What France's European dominance has taught everyone else
The European Finals weekend brought with it plenty for French teams to celebrate. Three of the four finalists in the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup showdowns hailed from France and, when La Rochelle turned a distant dream into a reality, total European dominance was confirmed.
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Very few gave La Rochelle a chance of beating a Leinster side stacked with international pedigree, but Ronan O’Gara’s band of brothers refused to give their opposition the same credence. They flew quickly up in defence and were expansive in attack, stifling their opposition for the full 80. And yet, thanks to the boot of Johnny Sexton, Leinster remained in front for most of the contest, until replacement scrum half Arthur Retière bundled over in the dying minutes to give La Rochelle their first taste of European glory.
Only a day before, Lyon soared to new heights when they dominated Toulon 30-12 in the Challenge Cup final. In front of a rapturous Stade de Marseille crowd, another scrum-half in the form of Baptiste Couilloud crossed for the opening try and from then on Lyon proved insurmountable.
Notably, this too was their first European title. The breakthrough success of La Rochelle and Lyon in international club rugby is not simply a story of underdog success, it signposts the fundamental value of relegation and promotion in club competition.
In the 2013-2014 season, both cup winners were playing in the Pro D2. Lyon were crowned champions come the end of that season and earnt promotion to the Top 14. They were joined by La Rochelle, who beat Agen 31-22 in the play-off final, having spent the last three years in the French second division.
Promotion suited La Rochelle better than Lyon, as the Stade de Gerland outfit were instantly relegated a season after. However, they made it back to the top tier in 2016 and have stayed there ever since.
It is no secret that financial investment goes hand in hand with a promotion bid. La Rochelle increased their stadium capacity to 15,000 and had a budget injection of 16.5 million euros to help their bid while Lyon had strong financial reserves between 2011 and 2016 when they were considered a proverbial yo-yo team. A couple of years on and both are now European title winners, all because they were given time to grow, both on and off the field.
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The Gallagher Premiership could truly benefit from adopting a similar system. Ealing Trailfinders topped the Championship table this season but were denied promotion on the grounds that the club’s facilities did not meet a minimum standards criteria. The London team have been on the fringes of the Premiership for some time now and can feel hard done by at the ruling.
Without the incentive of promotion, investment in Championship clubs will become harder to come by and fan involvement will soon reach a ceiling.
Compare this with the reaction to La Rochelle’s European triumph. The city only has a population of around 75,000 but its port was flooded with jubilant supporters, immensely proud of what their club achieved.
Plenty of teams in the English second division will have watched that enviously, foreseeing what could be possible if promotion became genuine.
#ChampionsCup #MondayMotivation
Le Port de La Rochelle en fusion après le retour des Héros ! 😍😱💛🖤 @staderochelais pic.twitter.com/S2j3dCGDBv
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And it wasn’t long ago that an English team benefitted from promotion. The Exeter Chiefs first broke into the Premiership back in 2010 and have since become a perennial title contender. They won the league twice in 2017 and 2020, and lifted the Champions Cup in 2020 after beating Racing 92 in the grand finale.
Admittedly, not all promotions are successful. You need look no further than the case of London Welsh, who fell into administration after a season spent in the Premiership. But if anything, this demonstrated how England’s top league is increasingly becoming a closed shop.
In stark contrast, the French system shows the value of having a competitive second division that filters into the top flight. And the European winners over the weekend are markers of this.
Since earning promotion, both Lyon and La Rochelle have edged their way into the Top 14 playoffs. La Rochelle have now appeared in two consecutive Champions Cup finals and Lyon have claimed their first major honour since 1933.
Financial investment has no doubt helped each team’s ascent, but neither would be where they are today if promotion was not in place.
Comments on RugbyPass
You know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to comments