FFR agree schedule... and it will be brutal!

For France’s internationals, especially those playing for the six Top 14 clubs in the knockout phase of the held-over Champions and Challenge Cup competitions, next season starts off hard – and just gets harder.

- JAMES HARRINGTON

Released: Hugo Bonneval is joining Pau from Toulon

The ongoing detente between professional rugby (LNR) in France and the union (FFR) was extended this week, when the FFR signed off on the LNR’s proposed calendar for the new season.

The calendar had been in the union’s hands for more than a week – and had been rejected once – and the rubber-stamping exercise was on hold pending World Rugby’s decision on the end-of-year international window.

Earlier this week, the LNR briefly threatened legal action if the FFR continued to stall. Within hours, however, the FFR had unanimously agreed to the calendar, and the LNR had said clubs would release players for an extended end-of-year international programme.

It means, as expected, the 2020/21 Top 14 and ProD2 seasons – assuming France continues to keep its coronavirus situation under control – will kick off on the weekend of September 4. The Top 14 final is inked in for June 26, 2021. And then, there’s next summer’s scheduled three-Test tour of Australia. The first Test kicks off on July 3.