While many top 14 players are courted by R360, a rebel league project, the FFR threatens to deprive those who will participate in France.
Like tennis or football -and its famous super league -rugby is under the threat of a rebellious league project, led by English Mike Tindall, world champion in 2003 and member of the British royal family. Called “R360”, this project intends to create a traveling circuit of twelve franchises, with eight male teams and four women, built around a national or regional identity.
Sixteen weekends for, the franchises would compete in major stadiums in London, Paris, Dublin, Le Cap, Buenos Aires but also Barcelona, São Paulo, Tokyo, Dubai or New York in a Super Bowl atmosphere, therefore with rugby matches but also concerts. And to attract the public, the organizers see things big since they want to attract the 300 best players in the world.
According to the English press, no less than 160 pre -contracts would have already been signed without these players attempted by the adventure being really engaged and several stars of the Top 14 having been approached among which Baptiste Serin and Ben White, with proposals “Between 500,000 euros and € 1.5 million in the season,” according to the team.
The FFR Wind standing against the project
In their brochure, the organizers of this R360 do not hesitate to use the image of Antoine Dupont. “Antoine has nothing to do with this project”However, assures his agent. And the French Rugby Federation is clear: players who will participate in the dissident project will be banished from the XV of France.
“This project does not correspond to our vision of the rugby spirit, based on sharing, solidarity and territorial anchoring,” said Florian Grill, President of the FFR. It would represent an impoverishment of amateur rugby that the professional world must support, as we work there in France with the National League. »»
“This project would endanger the health of players, as well as medical and athletic follow -up by the Federation”, He added when the project must be audited by the World Rugby Council during its session next June.
