Under a radiant sun and a cloudless blue sky, the women of the XV of France invested, in this month of January, the grounds of the National rugby center of Marcoussis (Essonne) for their morning training. " It's too slow ! " annoyed one of the coaches over the race of some players, sanctioned by a series of ten push-ups. "Come on, girls, everyone is doing it!" " launches one of the group's executives. All the girls run together. As if nothing separated them.
However, they are not all housed in the same boat in the practice of their sport, and therefore in the approach of the matches of the national selection. In the group of 30 players who prepared the VI Nations tournament, they are thus 7 amateurs – they will be 3 in this case Sunday February 23 against Wales (1 pm) -, the rest of the team having semi-professional status.
In November 2018, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) formalized a list of 24 half-time federal contracts for rugby union. Since August 2019, two more girls – Jessy Trémoulières, voted best player in the world in 2018 and Maëlle Filopon – benefit from it.
The goal : "Free up time for international players and thus develop their collective and individual performances in the French team ", according to the FFR press release. These contracts offer players 50% compensation and a flexible timetable with additional training.
"This contract changed my life"
Safi Ndiaye, 31, 73 selections is second line of the XV of France. When she puts away her crampons, she is a special education teacher with children who have behavioral problems. "When I was an amateur, I worked 40 hours a week. Today, I went at 10 p.m.: this contract changed my life. "
Her job was difficult to manage when she did not have a contract with the FFR. "Today, I feel less tired and more available psychologically. " In addition to offering her remuneration, this agreement allows her to have a lighter schedule, where she slips care and five training sessions per week.
The amateurs, they, are far from the account. "For girls without a contract, it's harder to be free, abounds Annick Hayraud, the general manager. They get daily allowances when they're with us, but it's not the same. " They have to deal with their work, and are sometimes even forced to sacrifice rugby.
"When I worked at Decathlon, I worked weekends, I missed several matches and training sessions", recognizes Laure Sansus, scrum half at Stade Toulousain (25 years old, 14 selections). She is now a logistician at her club shop and has more flexible hours. "To manage well, you have to have an understanding employer, who gives us time for rugby", affirms the player.
This pattern of life, different for amateurs and semi-professionals, has an influence on the physical form. "Girls on contract have more time for rest and recovery", deplores Laure Sansus, before adding that "It necessarily affects performance". "I don't think it creates disparities between girls", ensures however Céline Bourillot, the vice-president in charge of feminine at the FFR.
If Annick Hayraud "Would like others (Contracts) in view of the World Cup in 2021 ", Céline Bourillot says "Not to have discussed it again" and "Want to stay on 26 contracts", brandishing the argument of the girls already on contract also within the French rugby 7 team to come to support the French team.
The gap is widening with other nations
Beyond the group's internal inequalities, it is with other nations, where the players are already professional, such as England and New Zealand, that the gap tends to widen. "We are never very far behind with the English or the Black Ferns, but they beat us", regrets Safi Ndiaye.
England, who won 19 to 13 in the crunch on February 2, started paying their players in 2017 ahead of the World Cup in the same year, before making them professional in 2019.
In 2018, 30 Black Ferns obtained a professional contract awarded by the New Zealand Rugby (NZR), guaranteeing them a salary (40,000 to 45,000 dollars, or 23,400 to 26,300 euros).
"It’s more about geography than inequality, tempers Annick Hayraud. The English are all an hour from London, to get them together it doesn't take long. We need half a day, because the girls play in clubs all over France. "
The players do not wear gloves. "If we do not generalize this project, I am afraid that we will be left behind, regrets Laure Sansus. The professional teams train together three days a week, we, it’s only during the internships, it will necessarily create a delay “, Adds Safi Ndiaye.
In view of the 2021 World Cup, which the Blue ones hope to win, they who, in eight editions, have climbed six times on the podium without ever winning the Grail, the question of the generalization of these contracts to the whole group should be asked again.
