2023-06-15 02:51:13
At more than 58%, the clubs decided to follow him. Florian Grill has been the new president of the French Rugby Federation since Wednesday, until the end of 2024, the end of the initial mandate of his predecessor, Bernard Laporte, who resigned in January. If the president of the Ile-de-France League will have to coexist with an elected majority with the former coach of the XV of France, he intends to quickly launch various projects for French rugby. While refusing to interfere in the life of the XV of France less than three months before the World Cup at home.
What will be your first mission as the new president of the FFR?
FLORIAN GRILL. Bringing French rugby together. As such, I am reassured by the declaration of Patrick Buisson (Editor’s note: defeated candidate of the current majority) who explains that they will not block the system. It’s better that way, no one would understand that we find ourselves in this situation. I thank him and Mr. Martinez, who has acted as interim president for the past few months, and I extend my hand to them so that we can work together.
You will need several chosen ones to be able to work…
There are forty people on the steering committee, including eleven elected from our Oval list together. We add the two representatives of the National League who want to move things forward, and that means that we need eight people who follow us to vote on the files. We want to strengthen the means of the leagues and regional committees, people are aware that we must move forward. This is the third vote in our favor after the referendum where the clubs had refused Patrick Buisson as deputy president and the May election which allocated eleven of the twelve vacant seats to Oval together. Rugby has been too politicized, we have to move on now. We want to open up the federal office, entirely reserved for current governance, to make it an intelligently balanced body.
You do not quote Serge Simon, former right arm of Bernard Laporte?
Serge Simon has always been very responsible for the extremist politicization of rugby, he is not one of the people with whom we can work. We will bring together people who want to work for rugby. It’s possible. I voted for 80% of the reforms when I was, even if I don’t like this term, in the opposition.
What do you want to accomplish by the end of 2024?
Everything we have committed to in our program. We want to restore proximity with the club by relocating certain Leagues, relaunch territorial shields, overhaul the reform of mileage allowances, and do a lot of work with the development of rugby among schoolchildren. The FFR must also regain international visibility, work on the file for the future of the Stade de France and become a federation with a mission: to increase the sections of adapted rugby and health rugby, to work on the priority districts of the city, to increase job dating, etc. The model based on marketing rights will continue, but it is no longer sufficient. This basic work feeds performance. It is said that obesity is a national issue. We, the overweight kid or girl should be welcome.
Do you want to change something in the functioning of the XV of France?
The XV of France, we are not going to touch anything. We will support them for the World Cup. I will meet his coach Fabien Galthié with manager Raphaël Ibañez to explain my project. I’m sure everything will be fine.
Even if Fabien Galthié is claimed to be close to Bernard Laporte?
It’s not an obstacle. I find it normal to have field friendships. Just as I absolutely do not require members of the steering committee to no longer be close to Bernard Laporte. I’m not asking to choose a side, let’s try to skim through it all and just work together.
But Bernard Laporte will still be able to come and visit the XV of France, as was the case before the start of the Six Nations Tournament?
I see no obstacle, everyone has the right to go see our Blues. But not in a salaried setting. Especially since we will be intransigent on the reimbursement of lawyers’ fees incurred by the federation in the context of its trial. It’s out of the question that we pay him.
Are you going to leave the management of the World Cup to Patrick Buisson?
It could be him, or Alexandre Martinez. This is the meaning of the discussions that I must have with them. You have to be reasonable and serious. I’m not going to come within three months of the event and say: I will change everything and break everything you have done.
On the future of the Stade de France, what do you intend to do?
There are two times in this file. One, that of the non-compensation for the absence of matches of the Six Nations Tournament in 2024 linked to the works for the Olympic Games. I do not see that we can hope except miracle on this point if I believe what L’Equipe had revealed on the subject. Two, that of the actual future of the stadium. You have to look at what you can do to try to integrate the round table of one of the possible buyers. Say : “we are covered by the specifications which impose our presence for 25 years”, this is not enough. We can try to commit financially, in particular via the money of CVC (investment funds entered in the capital of the Six Nations Tournament), just to have a say.
Are you talking about presence in international bodies?
Our two representatives were Bernard Laporte and Claude Atcher (ex-director general of the France 2023 organizing committee). It is quite natural that as president of the federation, I position myself to integrate World Rugby. But there will also be Abdelatif Benazzi, whom I want to rely on for this international aspect.
Should the federation go further on the management of concussions?
I want to take stock of what has been put in place on Federal 2 and below with the lowering of the tackle line. It takes a very strict application of the rules to preserve the health of practitioners. We must also support the work in terms of training, in particular on how to place the head on the tackle. Finally, continue the work at World Rugby on the dossier. The evolution of the rules for entering melee has reduced the risk of quadriplegia, but this subject remains an important issue.
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