![Battle lines drawn in star player release row](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/1686/494352/5f27a30bc5ef2/Battle-lines-drawn-in-star-player-release-row.jpg)
Eight days. That’s how long France’s Top 14 clubs gave World Rugby to respond to a shot-across-the-bows legal letter demanding information ahead of further proceedings over the end-of-year international window and the extension of player release regulations.
The letter was sent, on the clubs’ behalf, by the Ligue National de Rugby (LNR), and is another salvo in a simmering cold war between club and country.
Under the expanded international window – which will run from October 24 to December 5 – France will face Ireland in the 2020 Six Nations match postponed from March, and are set to play in an eight-team pool-based tournament featuring the Six Nations sides, Japan and Fiji.
The LNR, which manages France’s two professional leagues, the Top 14 and ProD2, accuses World Rugby of changing the international calendar, “without any real consultation with the professional leagues and in particular the LNR”.
The extension of the international window to seven weeks, including one rest weekend, instead of the usually scheduled three, has been described as “unacceptable” for French clubs, who fear it “would cause considerable economic damage …they are already very hard hit by the Covid-19 health crisis”.
The letter and the threat of possible future legal action are pre-emptive strikes from the LNR ahead of talks on the calendar and player release with the FFR.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 02, 2020 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 02, 2020 من The Rugby Paper.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![Tykes out to get it right this time](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/7c2u7HFYy1725270183872/TYKES-OUT-TO-GET-IT-RIGHT-THIS-TIME.jpg)
Tykes out to get it right this time
LEEDS Tykes are embracing their big club mentality and heavy favourites tag ahead of the new season getting underway on Saturday.
![Devoto to make the difference for Titans](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/rBcTHTg4q1725269893635/DEVOTO-TO-MAKE-THE-DIFFERENCE-FOR-TITANS.jpg)
Devoto to make the difference for Titans
TWO sides have dropped down from National One into the West meaning it would be hard to look past one of Cinderford or Taunton Titans bouncing straight back up.
![Heald predicts a four-way battle](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/P97ahYbxB1725269782213/HEALD-PREDICTS-A-FOURWAY-BATTLE.jpg)
Heald predicts a four-way battle
THIS season is a golden opportunity for one of last season’s title contenders to take advantage and win promotion as no team has dropped down from National One into the East.
![Shanahan: We need to create fear factor](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/oSR2OFcZo1725269627992/SHANAHAN-WE-NEED-TO-CREATE-FEAR-FACTOR.jpg)
Shanahan: We need to create fear factor
NATIONAL One gets underway next weekend and supporters will expect another enthralling campaign with jeopardy throughout.
![Price glad he played under old regime](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/zlZOPb3lB1725269510689/PRICE-GLAD-HE-PLAYED-UNDER-OLD-REGIME.jpg)
Price glad he played under old regime
AT Pontypool Park on September 24, 1986, with the sweet chestnut trees in full autumnal regalia, the faithful rolled up without the foggiest clue that they were about to see something they had never seen before. And would never see again.
![Energetic thinking urgently required](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/0CkDw_FyT1725269358394/ENERGETIC-THINKING-URGENTLY-REQUIRED.jpg)
Energetic thinking urgently required
CRITICAL supporters of Bristol in the late amateur era believed their team was being straitjacketed by a rigidly traditional committee structure driven primarily by the pursuit of a better yesterday.
![Holmes hoping to make his mark with Scottish](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/ZTmd25LZm1725269277571/HOLMES-HOPING-TO-MAKE-HIS-MARK-WITH-SCOTTISH.jpg)
Holmes hoping to make his mark with Scottish
WHEN it comes to player movement this summer, English rugby’s normal merry go round has been somewhat of a slow spin, a reminder of the fragility the game still has as it looks to work its way out of the woes left by Covid.
![Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/HKnQ_QY-Y1725269200037/BARKER-DETERMINED-TO-HIT-THE-HEIGHTS-AT-BRISTOL.jpg)
Barker determined to hit the heights at Bristol
Paul Rees talks to Steele Barker, a young player who was once told he was too small to make it in the second row
![Round 1 to Boks in battle of the big beasts](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/KrKOt30xN1725268986992/ROUND-1-TO-BOKS-IN-BATTLE-OF-THE-BIG-BEASTS.jpg)
Round 1 to Boks in battle of the big beasts
RASSIE Erasmus won the battle of the coaches against Scott Robertson as his South African Bomb Squad – headed by Malcolm Marx – got the Springboks over the line and kept them on track for the Rugby Championship.
![England must find answers ...and fast](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/1686/1817782/SdRjzUIo41725268876473/ENGLAND-MUST-FIND-ANSWERS-AND-FAST.jpg)
England must find answers ...and fast
THE coaching churn that was a canker during the Eddie Jones’ tenure as England head coach has now spread to Steve Borthwick’s regime.