Even in a normal year, this week would probably count as reasonably busy in French offseason rugby terms. Preseason – which normally begins for most clubs in early July – is now well underway, as administrators, players, coaches and fans look to an expected restart on September 4.
On the training pitch, a couple of notable injuries have already been reported. Clermont are on the lookout for a back-rower on a short-term deal, as rampaging Peceli Yato will miss a good chunk of the season after undergoing knee surgery; while Toulouse’s Arthur Bonneval – son of Erik – is out for six months with a ruptured Achilles.
But most of the news, still, is off the pitch.
Next Tuesday, a meeting of Top 14 and Pro D2 presidents is set to take place in Toulouse. Top of the agenda: lowering the salary cap, which is currently set at €11.3m. The options: a multi-year process to cut it to €10m; or a deeper cut and a marquee player system, similar to the English Premiership.
Cutting French rugby’s salary cap has been tried before. In December 2018, a similar bid to introduce a marquee player system failed at the final hurdle, with the clubs eventually deciding no change was better than any change.
This time, things may be a little different. According to L’Equipe, the most vociferous presidents remain against the marquee player idea, which runs contrary to the whole idea of cutting the wage bill.
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 05, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Campese: Schmidt is wrong man for Aussies
DAVID Campese delivered a blunt message regarding Joe Schmidt’s position as Australia’s head coach, claiming the Kiwi isn’t right for the role because he doesn’t understand the Wallabies’ culture and history.
How London Welsh are working way back to top
William Gupwell goes down to south-west London to find a club out to rediscover itself
Sorry, Geoff, but let's not de-power scrums
EVERY week I can’t wait for Sunday to come around so that I can read The Rugby Paper and see what is really happening in our game.
Howdy! England pair saddle up to spread the word
JESS Breach and Ellie Kildunne have launched their new podcast Rugby Rodeo with one ambition in mind – to grow the profile of the women’s game.
I put in three good shots on Jonah Lomu
BACK in the day, when we first started in Leagues in 1987, we began in North East 2.
Dupont & Co need to take on the very best
I THINK we established long ago that my admiration of Antoine Dupont knows no bounds, he is the best rugby player I have ever reported on or watched in the flesh, pipping Gareth Edwards by a short head, but there is no question that there is a gaping huge hole in his CV which many cite against him when the all-time lists are compiled and debated.
Tuipulotu's power is too much for Cardiff
SCOTLAND star Sione Tuipulotu has been hailed as one of the best three 12s in the world following his player of the match display in this 13-try rollercoaster at the Arms Park.
Following in father's footsteps ... but for how long?
CAST your minds back, those of you who are sufficiently long in the tooth, to Melbourne in late October 2003.
Borthwick should call up these young props
IT WAS surprising that neither of England’s U20 world champion props, Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale) or Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), were in the England training squad going to Portugal ahead of the autumn series.
Lively Reed lights the spark to ignite Sharks
AARON Reed proved to be Sale’s pivotal weapon, and the perfect foil in both attack and defence to ensure Sharks came out on the right side of a nine-try nailbiter on Friday.