Stability prevailed. Opposing former French international Didier Codorniou, Florian Grill was widely re-elected on Saturday, October 19, as head of the French Rugby Federation (FFR). The former head of the Ile de France League, in office since June 2023 – and the early elections after the resignation of Bernard Laporte in January of this year – benefited from 67.22% of the votes of 1,900 French clubs called to vote. since Friday, the FFR reported. He will be in office until the fall of 2028.
“These results are very satisfactory”commented Florian Grill on Saturday, during a press conference at the National Rugby Center (CNR) in Marcoussis (Essonne), where the federation has its headquarters. Highlighting “appeasement” Within the organization since his arrival at the helm, Bernard Laporte’s former number one adversary now has a comfortable majority in the steering committee (33 chosen for his Oval list as a whole, compared to five for Didier’s 100% rugby list Codorniou). “The federal office will become a strategic office, constituted proportionally, we will work [avec les élus d’opposition] »the 59-year-old leader continued, announcing that the FFR “we will face the problems” without hiding “and we will start again with a positive dynamic”.
Because French rugby has experienced a nightmare summer, marked by several tragedies and legal proceedings. The accusation of aggravated rape of two French XV players, Oscar Jegou and Hugo Auradou, during the Blues’ summer tour of South America, the 34-week suspension for racist comments by full-back Melvyn Jaminet – during the same afternoon in Mendoza , Argentina -, weighed heavily on the atmosphere of the campaign, as did the disappearance at sea of the young under-18 international Medhi Narjissi, during a Bleuets training camp in South Africa.
Review the management of French teams
Very defeated, Didier Codorniou admitted defeat on Saturday. “It’s clear, the best wins”declared the former “Little Prince” of the Blues (32 international matches), expressing the wish “stop communication” After a stormy campaign until the last moment, he denounced his side. “irregularities” AND “technical incidents” during the elections, which began Friday morning. “The important thing for me is how rugby will recover. It is an obligation to find peace and a certain harmony. »
Unlike June 2023, where he was elected at the end of a short campaign, forced by the forced dismissal of Bernard Laporte, convicted in the first instance of corruption (he appealed), and the celebration of the 2023 World Cup, a few months later. In France, Florian Grill now has a clear mandate. Re-elected by the French clubs, he will have to carry out numerous projects: increase the number of licensees, rectify the finances in the red and completely review the management of the French teams, after the different cases.
“I want French teams that are aware that they play for [les bénévoles du rugby]“They have more duties than rights.”concluded on Saturday. France’s XV will soon have the opportunity to test these new rules as they meet at the end of October to prepare for their autumn tour. Fabien Galthié’s protégés will host Japan (November 9), New Zealand (November 16) and Argentina (November 22).
