Florian Grill: "Without financial aid from the State, the French rugby federation will file for bankruptcy"

For a year, worrying figures have been circulating about the financial situation of the French Rugby Federation . Florian Grill confirms them to Le Figaro and sounds the alarm. "There are two parts. The 18 million euros of operating deficit - 130 million euros of revenue and 148 million euros of expenses - that we are able to manage. We have signed six new partners, which is considerable. We have cut our expenses, the internationals have made efforts on their bonuses... We have already identified almost 15 million euros of optimization on the 18. What is more complicated is the legacy of the World Cup . The deficit is 57 million euros: 36 million euros of operations and the 19 million euros of tax adjustment requested on December 23. I say it very clearly, this legacy is not within the reach of the FFR."

The president of the FFR makes no secret of it. He needs help from the public authorities. "There is a shared responsibility with the State. In the organization of France 2023, there were State controllers. I often raised my hand to say watch out and I was not listened to. If we had to pay these 57 million euros tomorrow, we would be bankrupt! The FFR does not have the financial capacity to assume this burden." A helping hand that he considers legitimate. "It would be a bit much if everyone were a winner in this World Cup, except the FFR. The State has collected 800 million euros in VAT revenue. Minus the 100 million euros in security costs, it is still largely the winner. It must listen to us, because the responsibility is shared and we cannot assume this deficit alone."

Discussions with the State have begun. A receptive interlocutor? "I have many declarations of love, but I am waiting for proof of love, concrete support. Do we want to save soldier rugby or not? Beyond our occasional troubles, rugby helps to build a nation, brings a lot to our society." And to become more pressing. "They are counting on us for the Stade de France. We have set clear rules: no more than four matches per year, a very significant reduction in rent, a percentage of return on boxes and hospitality in line with what is offered to us in the provinces... We got it. But we have not yet signed the contract. Playing in the provinces is one of the possible things. We want to do everyone a favor, but in return, we must also be helped."

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And not just by the State. Florian Grill is also discussing with the League (the LNR, which manages professional rugby) possible financial support. "It is not absurd that the League contributes to this war effort. Amateur rugby is suffering greatly. I therefore expect that part of the LNR's income will go to support these small clubs, which have youth teams, which are building the future. However, out of our 2,000 clubs, only 500 have cadet and junior teams. Honestly, French rugby has the potential to dominate for the next ten years, but I am not venturing beyond that, because rugby in villages and medium-sized towns is disappearing. Economically, it is now concentrated in the big cities, we are losing the network and proximity. We need to find a way to financially promote the small training clubs. Being aware that, if there is no more amateur rugby, there is no more professional rugby. So we have to work on it together.”