2023-11-14 23:28:31
They left the Stade de France in a World Cup quarter-final lost by one point (28-29) against the future South African champions. But the captain of the Blues Antoine Dupont, the third row of Stade Français Sekou Macalou, the three-quarter center of Montpellier Arthur Vincent, or one of the wingers of Bordeaux-Bègles Damian Penaud or Louis Bielle-Biarrey could erase the trauma of the lawn of Saint-Denis while trying to win an Olympic medal there in July 2024. This is in any case the scenario put forward by Olympic Midday Sunday. The specialized newspaper explains that these players from the French XV were targeted by the French rugby federation (FFR) to strengthen the Blues of the seven for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“There have been contacts in the past for a possible interest in playing seven-a-side, but we have never considered, for financial and sporting reasons, bringing in two, five or more players from the French XV in this team in anticipation of the Olympic Games, explains to Parisien-Aujourd’hui en France the vice-president of the FFR in charge of high level, Jean-Marc Lhermet. Already, it would be absurd to say to the septists after months and months of work: Now, you go, we will put Penaud or Bielle-Biarrey in your place. »
“Significant sums that we are not able to pay”
Because beyond destabilizing this group, fourth in the world rankings and who returns from a long internship in Fiji, also arises the question of financing the arrival of these potential reinforcements with the aim of integrating them from winter 2024 with a view to acclimatizing them to the strong demands of the September. With in particular the idea of drying them out for the next Six Nations Tournament to participate in stages of the world circuit in Los Angeles or Vancouver.
“It’s not the same agreement as for the XV of France, we have to reimburse to the nearest euro the time the players are made available,” underlines Jean-Marc Lhermet. However, to properly prepare for the Olympics, they would spend two thirds of the time from January to July with the septists. This represents significant sums that we are not able to pay (the FFR has a deficit of 20 million euros according to its president Florian Grill). »
And if certain players from the Top 14, like Toulouse’s Dimitri Delibes, or even Stade Français players Mathieu Hirigoyen and Pierre Boudehent, are part of a potential list of reinforcements established by the FFR in 2022, that is not the case of the players mentioned above. “No calculation has been made to bring in massive numbers of fifteen players,” insists Jean-Marc Lhermet. Now, if seven players are injured in May or June, it will be possible to call on members of this list or another, but not as part of long-term preparation. »
A breakthrough expected in the coming days for Antoine Dupont
Only one possible exception: that of the scrum half of the Blues and Stade Toulouse, back on the pitches of the Top 14 on Saturday, Antoine Dupont. In the case of the French captain, who celebrates his 27th birthday this Wednesday, negotiations between the Federation, the National Rugby League, his club and the person concerned have been taking place for many months. Several sources told Le Parisien that his decision has been made and that the prodigy fully intends to apply for the Paris Games with the Blues.
“Things need to speed up in the next ten days,” says Jean-Marc Lhermet. The main thing is first of all Antoine’s decision, and we also need to calibrate a few elements on the availability times for the French sevens team between the FFR and Stade Toulouse. »
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