The five reserve players for the France – Argentina match, Friday November 22 (9:10 p.m.), will not be able to play with their clubs during the 10e Top 14 day this weekend, according to a letter from the National Rugby League (LNR), consulted by AFP on Thursday.
In addition to the 23 players who are on the match sheet to face the Pumas, Régis Montagne (Clermont), Léo Berdeu (Lyon), Grégory Alldritt (La Rochelle), Maxime Lucu (UBB) and Maxime Lamothe (UBB) are retained by the French team in the event of a last minute withdrawal. A hard blow for Bordeaux-Bègles, who undoubtedly thought they could recover their hooker and their scrum half.
A risk of “unfairness” depending on the day of the match
In the event that they do not play on Friday, several clubs have questioned the League on the availability of these players to play in the 10e Top 14 day, Saturday and Sunday, given that they would be free from Friday evening.
In a letter sent by the LNR to the presidents of Top 14 clubs on Wednesday, the League responded in the negative, “all 28 players selected for the France – Argentina match will not be able to participate in the 10e Top 14 day ».
The League justifies this decision by relying on the agreement signed with the FFR on international players, according to which “28 players will be retained by the FFR (at the choice of the French team coach) until Sunday » during international match weeks.
READ ALSO. “It’s always special to play the Blues”: Felipe Contepomi speaks before France – Argentina
The NRL also points out the risk “unfairness between the clubs concerned”who could not all field the reserve players due to “of the programming schedule of the Top 14 match during the weekend”over which the clubs have no control.
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