At the Rabine stadium in Vannes, the celebrations could not have been better. Promoted to the first division, Vannetais Rugby Club (RCV) is preparing to become the first Breton club to play a Top 14 match, and at home. RCV will conclude the weekend of the resumption of the French championship by hosting Stade Toulouse, two-time champion and Antoine Dupont’s club, on Sunday 8 September at 9 p.m.
During the summer, the regular captain of the XV de France transformed into a rugby sevens player and led Les Bleus to their first ever Olympic title at a Stade de France in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), unleashed. If he does not return for the resumption of the Top 14, the Vannes-Toulouse match seems the perfect poster to restart the championship after two months of summer break.
But this summer, sporting interest was swept away by events off the field. On August 7, 17-year-old Medhi Narjissi disappeared at sea in South Africa while doing a recovery swim with the French under-18 team. An internal investigation was opened within the French Rugby Federation (FFR) to establish responsibility, but “A mistake has been made [par l’encadrement] »says Florian Grill, the president of the FFR, questioned by The world. “There was no justification for going to a place where the signs indicated danger.” Pending the conclusion of this investigation, the staff has been dismissed.
“An electroshock”
French rugby’s black summer had begun in South America, where the Blues played three matches in July. After a victory in Argentina, Melvyn Jaminet was the first to headline the “news” section by posting a video on Instagram in which he made racist comments. Returning to France, he was suspended from all competitions for thirty-four weeks. “Melvyn Jaminet “undermines the best interests of rugby””, The FFR justified this in a press release. The future of the full-back seems to be written far from the shirt worn by the rooster. “For me, these kinds of comments are not compatible with playing for the French national team”confirms Florian Grill.
Also in Argentina, Rochelais’ Oscar Jégou and Palois’ Hugo Auradou have been charged with aggravated rape, having been committed during a meeting. The two young rugby players – also selected for the French XV this summer – are accused by a 39-year-old woman with whom they had sexual relations on the night of 6th to 7th July, in a hotel room in Mendoza. Released under judicial supervision on 12th August, the two 21-year-old players were authorised to return to France on Tuesday 3rd September and set foot in Paris the following day. They remain pursued by the Argentine justice system.
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