This long-time opponent of Bernard Laporte was elected Wednesday president of the French rugby federation, ahead of Patrick Buisson, a figure close to the former coach of the XV of France.
Just elected president of the French Rugby Federation, Florian Grill calls, Wednesday June 14 on franceinfo, to a “indispensable sacred union” three months before the World Cup in France. The boss of the Ile-de-France League, succeeds Alexandre Martinez, acting president since the resignation of Bernard Laporte.
>> Rugby: pacifying a federation, preparing for the World Cup… The challenges awaiting Florian Grill, new president of the FFR
This long-time opponent of Bernard Laporte is elected at 58.14% by the approximately 1,900 French clubs, ahead of Patrick Buisson, a figure close to the former coach of the XV of France. “I’m not going to change everything when it comes to the World Cup”explains Florian Grill, who claims to be looking for the“appeasement” on the eve of the world. “There is a current that has understood that we cannot block French rugby”, he adds. If he recognizes that he himself has had “harsh words about ideas, methods, principles” of Bernard Laporte, he claims not to have “attacked no one”.
“I think rugby respects individuals and I respect Bernard Laporte’s career and the coaching role he may have had.”
Florian Grill, president of the FFRat franceinfo
“My goal is to develop rugby from the base, down to the smallest villages”, he assures. A goal to “8-10 years old”he underlines, taking advantage of the“World Cup effect”. For this, the new boss of French rugby wishes to rely on the regional leagues and the departments. “We have a sporting role, which is obvious to everyone, but also an educational rolehe says. I think that rugby conveys values and that when we give meaning to what we do, we are able to perform better. It’s really my priority”. “I will devote myself to amateur rugby” which represents 95% of rugby, he insists, without forgetting to look at the XV of France “with the eyes of Chimene and hope that he goes as far as possible”.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra for her part hailed the election of Florian Grill on Twitter: “He was able, through a campaign in the field and a speech of clarity, to gain the confidence of the clubs whose strong democratic mobilization I salute, once again, in this election”, tweeted Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. A first steering committee is scheduled for Thursday in Marcoussis.