Until Wednesday noon, the clubs are mobilized to decide on the identity of the next president of the French Rugby Federation.
It is to him that will return the mission to succeed the interim president Alexandre Martinez, and to complete the unfinished mandate of Bernard Laporte. Six months after the resignation of the latter, the presidents of the amateur clubs vote to appoint the next president of the French Rugby Federation, from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 June. Presentation of the two candidates.
Patrick Buisson, close to Bernard Laporte
He represents the majority and continuity with the former president. Former player, educator and manager, Patrick Buisson is the current vice-president of the FFR, in charge of amateur rugby, and close to Bernard Laporte. When announcing his candidacy under the title “All united for the XV of France”he had presented himself to AFP as the candidate of “unity” and “gathering”. He also surrounded himself with former international Guilhem Guirado, elected to the steering committee at the end of May and who would become number 2 in the institution in the event of victory, and Safi N’Diaye.
Buisson wants to work for amateur rugby, which is part of his “DNA”. “What matters most to me is to exchange with the clubs, to set up initiatives for the development of amateur rugby by exchanging and listening to the clubs”, he told AFP in April. While also promoting title objectives for the XV and 7-a-side teams during major upcoming events (World Cup, Olympic Games). But the 65-year-old man experienced a first failure, at the beginning of February, when Bernard Laporte had appointed him to succeed him directly as president-delegate. Most clubs had refused this designation during the consultation on the subject.
Florian Grill, the historical opponent
He would rather forget the legacy of Bernard Laporte. Florian Grill is part of the historic opposition to the former president, within the steering committee of the FFR, with the collective “Ovale ensemble”. After the departure of Bernard Laporte, he strongly regretted that the members of the majority of the steering committee did not follow the movement, while he and his elected officials had submitted their resignation. Boss of the Ile-de-France League, one of the most important regional leagues, he called in December, and the withdrawal of Laporte, for a vote of the clubs.
Grill (57) wants to work for territorial rugby. “It is an absolute priority: we want to work with the leagues on a redistribution to regain proximity, relaunch the regional championships., he explained on June 11 to AFP. He also wants “regain credibility” nationally and internationally after a turbulent period for the institution. This election represents a second chance for him to run for president. In 2020, he had already presented himself, but had lost against Bernard Laporte, precisely, re-elected for a second term.