The committee in charge of overseeing the future of elite women’s rugby in France has outlined its precise aims. It has been delayed by more than a year by the virus, but hopes to have them enacted soon. The clubs are all in favour of the proposals.
It plans to see two divisions of 12 clubs, Elite 1 and Elite 2, whose schedule will harmonise with the international calendar. Ideally it would progress unbroken; the period from January to May would be ideal.
It wants to achieve a more balanced championship to make it more attractive to spectators and the media. An important aim is to offer every Elite 1 player, whichever club she represents, the same quality of coaching and training and support facilities. Those aspirations are the hardest element to achieve, as the Premier 15s programme has proved.
One important change in policy sees the women’s clubs treated separately from the men’s – the problems facing the women’s game are not the same.
The FFR is pleased to announce that the last three play-offs of the current championship will be covered by Eurosport and France 4. The final will be aired on May 23.
