CORONAVIRUS: THE TOP 14 FALLS ON THE MONTH OF AUGUST

[H O L D F I R E 流]

The National Rugby League wishes to complete the championship this summer with a shortened final phase. Then continue immediately with the following season. Save what can be saved. That is to say, not much. Award a champion title, necessarily at a discount. Satisfy at least the broadcaster, Canal +, and thus hope to receive the last payment of TV rights, or 15 million euros (82 M € have already been paid). The National Rugby League refused on Wednesday evening to resign itself to a white season. Conversely, it offered the thirty professional clubs in the Top 14 and Pro D2 what it called a "privileged scenario". This “providential” solution? A season closed in two or three weekends starting in mid-August. With two proposed formulas. Quarter-finals between the first eight on the date of the suspension of the championship (i.e. Bordeaux-Montpellier, Lyon-Stade Toulousain, Racing-Clermont and Toulon-La Rochelle), then semi-finals and final at the Stade de France, end of August . Or semi-finals on the highest ranked fields (Bordeaux-Toulon and Lyon-Racing) and final in Saint-Denis. Formula retained Whatever the formula chosen by the presidents of the Top 14 at the end of April, during a vote in general assembly (it will then still be necessary to obtain the approval of the Ministry of Sports), it will present an astonishing characteristic. These matches will be played with the season's squad… 2020-2021, a new season which will start in stride, in September. For example, the Bordeaux-Bègles Union, the leader, will not be able to count on its best player, the Fijian Semi Radradra, who signed with the English club Bristol. And too bad for sports equity. >> READ ALSO - After the presidential announcements, the Top 14 wants to believe in a resumption of the season If, in its press release, the LNR does not completely exclude a recovery in mid-June with a final at the Stade de France on July 18, this solution is more than hypothetical given the health situation in France, and this, despite the position the Ministry of Sports who spoke of a resumption of the championships "mid-June at best" in Ouest-France, yesterday. And if the ban was lifted, will supporters crowd in large numbers in the stadiums from August? Supporters who, on social networks, are more than wary of this stunted end of the season, campaigning for a white season. This calendar does not raise any enthusiasm among the leaders of the Top 14, between those who do not want a final phase behind closed doors (Laurent Marti and Yann Roubert at the head, the presidents of the UBB and the LOU) and those who fear contamination between players (Éric de Cromières, president of Clermont, and others). Without neglecting the financial difficulties of the clubs (nine are in the red financially according to an official audit): resuming only in July allows to keep the players in partial unemployment until June 30. >> READ ALSO - Lorenzetti castigates the presidents of the Top 14 "who see only through the prism of their personal interest" The "privileged scenario" of a postponement during the second half of August does not resolve all these questions. Emmanuel Macron announced the cancellation of demonstrations "with a large audience until mid-July". But there is no indication that this ban will not be extended. 

Edited April 18, 2020 by -Dark
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