World Rugby emerged victorious from the scrum. Despite opposition from the English and French Leagues, the governing body of world rugby voted unsurprisingly, Thursday, July 30, for an international autumn window of six weekends against three – usually devoted to autumn tests – by temporarily modifying its rule 9, which governs the secondment of internationals.
World Rugby Council adopts provisional 2020 calendar adapted to # Covid19 📰 https://t.co/YLPVlXiVQE https://t.co/CmHentvHRh
– WorldRugby_FR (@World Rugby FR)
“Today is an important day for our sport, because it is a first step towards recovery after the global Covid-19 pandemic”, rejoiced Bernard Laporte. The vice-president of World Rugby and president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has much to be satisfied: the XV of France will be able to play six matches between October 24 and December 6, which would allow to partly replenish a cash flow undermined by the health crisis.
Either, in order, a preparation match on October 24 (against Scotland or Wales); Ireland, on October 31, at the end of the Six Nations Tournament, which the Blues can win for the first time since 2010; and then, after a weekend break, four weeks for an unprecedented competition bringing together the six nations and potentially two guests (Fiji, Japan or Georgia).
On the southern hemisphere side, and always if the health situation allows it, the Rugby Championship will take place during the same period (from November 7 to December 13), over six weekends in a row and in a single country to limit the risks of contagion. New Zealand, spared by the virus, is strongly approached to welcome it.
“A unilateral decision”
The English (Premiership Rugby) and French (National Rugby League, LNR) Leagues, whose clubs employ many internationals from their own country as well as foreigners, have already expressed their disapproval of the even provisional modification of the rule. 9. The Top 14 clubs agree to go up to five matches for the XV of France, but not six.
“The approval [de la modification] follows a serious and constructive dialogue between the main stakeholders of rugby, taking into account the interests of international rugby, the interests of professional clubs and the well-being of the players in order to determine a timetable which will allow to obtain the benefits immediate financial resources and to finance sport at all levels ”, defends World Rugby. “All parties have sought to find the best possible solution to support the interests of international rugby, clubs and players”, added the Englishman Bill Beaumont, president of the body.
Three months of discussions with the English and French Leagues were not enough to reach a compromise. The Premiership and the NRL denounced last week a “Unilateral decision” when a possible modification of rule 9 to extend the availability of internationals had been recommended by the Executive Committee of World Rugby.
Will the NRL, with or without the Premiership, go to clash with a legal recourse against the governing body of world rugby for being passed in force by amending rule 9? Time is running out for all parties – the season resumes on September 4 in France – and the French government has not encouraged optimism by maintaining a maximum capacity of 5,000 people in the stadiums until August 31, even with prefectural exemptions to raise the ceiling. How many will they be in the Stade de France at the end of October to see the Blues play the final victory in the Tournament? Impossible to say.
