Like their Ligue 1 football counterparts, the French Top 14 rugby clubs still believe that they can finish the current season, interrupted by containment measures following the coronavirus epidemic. But the more time passes, the more difficult the plans drawn up to end the season become, as the epidemic is still there and the conditions for leaving containment do not seem to allow a rapid return – and above all in complete safety – on the grounds.
Meeting Wednesday, April 22, the steering committee of the National Rugby League (LNR) took note. "After taking stock of the situation, in particular on the work in progress of the medical commission on the recovery protocol and of the sports commission on the re-athletics and preparation times", he decided to abandon his script " organizing the final stages of the Top 14 from the end of June until mid-July. "
"As a result, the Top 14 semi-finals, originally scheduled for Nice on June 19 and 20, are canceled"added the NRL in its press release, also specifying that the summer transfer window will be extended until July 15 "To allow the clubs to have a greater latitude in the constitution of their membership".
A second scenario on the table
The NRL does not, however, give up on ending the season. A second scenario remains on the table, that of"A resumption of competitions before the end of the summer", with a final phase involving four teams: Bordeaux-Bègles against Toulon, and Lyon against Racing 92 in the semi-finals (the clubs which occupied the first four places in the championship before the interruption), then a final at the Stade de France.
However, this scenario remains conditional on government approval. "The decisions on the competitions will be taken, as soon as the deconfinement plan of the government will be announced, that the medical protocol of resumption will be validated by the competent authorities, and in consideration of the work of the sports commission of the LNR over the period of re-athletics and player preparation », specifies the press release of the League.
"Anyway, it’s the sports ministry that will say" yes, you can go "or" no, you cannot ", noted Bernard Dusfour, president of the medical commission of the LNR in an interview at Agence France-Presse. We are not above ground compared to the rest of the population, we have the same constraints. Until we have this certainty that players cannot infect each other, it will not happen. "
"Sport will not be a priority"
"What is certain is that sport will not be a priority, it is not a priority in our society, Sports minister Roxana Maracineanu said on Eurosport on Wednesday. Eobviously a recovery in mid-June is the optimal scenario, but there are others. That of a resumption in September of the championships, even of a white season this year to be able to resume at best next season. "
Explaining that the department "Works on recovery protocols with sports doctors", and recalling that sports such as rugby or football will have no screening pass ("The tests will be reserved in priority for people who present symptoms"), Mme Maracineanu also assured, in an interview with the team Wednesday, that"No consideration will take precedence over the health of athletes".
