No heating lap for Yann Roubert. Barely elected to the Head of the National Rugby Leaguethe former president of the Lou attacked all the hot subjects of the moment. Cheating, players’ health, financial balance, international status, future of the Top 14 … The new LNR boss has not taken long.
The cheat in the viewfinder, the Salary Cap online red
This is one of his first major projects. For Roubert, The Salary Cap is not negotiable. He sees him as a vital tool To keep a balanced and economically viable championship. And in this context, there is no question of letting the sprains pass: “We will strengthen the sanctions, including sports, for the cheating clubs. We all have a common fight to ban the cheating of rugby ” (Le Figaro15 avril 2025).
The case Jaminetsettled in mediation with a fine of 1.3 million euros for Toulousewas the trigger. Robert now wants the rules to be clear, strict and applied from next season. Direct message to clubs: Small arrangements will no longer pass.
A clear line on the health of players
After the confidences of Sébastien Chabal On its memory disorders, the health debate in rugby has returned to the table. Roubert does not bother anything. He recognizes that each accident is one too much, but wants Avoid general panic. He recalls the progress made in recent years: connected toothpicks, blue card, Independent match doctorsnew rules in the amateur …
“You have to do everything you can to avoid risks, because players’ health is an absolutely essential issue”he underlines (The teamApril 16, 2025). He also assumes a certain form of realism: “We keep learning to bike our children on the pretext that there are falls” (Le Figaro).
Under tension clubs despite a discipline that grows
On the finance side, the observation is more contrasting. The LNR has just published a report showing that 10 of the 14 top 14 clubs are in red. And even if income increases (audiences, ticket office, partners, etc.), the economy remains fragile. Roubert thanks the patrons that fill the deficits, but he knows that this model is not tenable in the long term. Again, he puts the Salary Cap in the center of the gameas a lever to force clubs to better manage.
“We can be happy with growth, but you have to be lucid. It remains a fragile economy which must find its balance ”he explains (The team).
The tour in New Zealand is debated
Another sensitive subject: the Liberation of internationals For the next Blues tour in New Zealand. Several executives want to go there, even in the event of a Top 14 final. Roubert does not close the door but wants to find a Reasonable compromise Between the desires of the players, the needs of the clubs and the priorities of the French team.
-“We hear the players, we can understand their desire to confront All Blacks at home. But we need a balance not to jeopardize either our clubs, our players, nor our French team ”he warns (The team).
A stadium in France still well anchored
Calendar side, The top 14 returns to the Stade de France For its 2025 and 2026 finals, despite a future change of dealer. And this return should last: 25 or 26 finals over the next 30 years will take place in Saint-Denis. An anchor assumed, after a rather successful Marseille parenthesis.
Also note a more unexpected touch this year: Benjamin Millepied will choreography the final show of the final. Mix Contemporary Dance and Rugby? Roubert sees it as a nice nod to the aesthetics of the game. A slightly offbeat bet, but assumed.
A president who wants transparency, no centralization
Finally, Roubert keeps an attentive eye on the Senatorial law proposal being examined. If he supports measures against piracy and for the financial transparencyit is wary of everything that could weaken the autonomy of the leagues in the face of the federations.
“We have a model that works, which is a European, even global reference. It should not be jeopardized ”he recalls (Le Figaro).
A function still to frame
Last point: his personal status. He is not yet paid for his post, but he does not intend to make Full -time volunteering for four years. “My wife worries, and she is right”he slides with humor. The subject will be discussed with the presidents. Not a priority, but an obligatory passage.
Yann Roubert did not take long to lay his milestones. No big sentences, but clear guidelines : zero tolerance on cheat, tight management of finance, lucidity on the risks of the game, and desire to build a more serene rugby. To follow closely, because the next few months promise to be full.
I grew up in a family where rugby was all times. I was on the edge of the field when Castres beat Pau and joined the elite, I was in the Pierre Antoine stadium against Gary Whhetton when he made his Haka to celebrate the Brennus of 1993 and I have always been rocked from the legends of this sport. Now, it is with XV Ovalie that I hear prolonging the adventure. #Teamco
