Failed in January, elected in June? This is in any case the plan of Patrick Buisson, whose name had been rejected at the beginning of the year during the consultation of the clubs to take the place of delegate president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) to replace Bernard Laporte . The vice-president in charge of amateur rugby announced Thursday in an interview with AFP that he was running for the federal election on June 12.
“We have to put aside our differences. I present myself to gather us behind the XV of France because it is together that we will win: the division has no place in our Federation, especially a few months before a World Cup, he explained. We must all unite behind the XV of France to achieve the common goal. »
“The list” All united behind the XV of France “is a common list of candidates for the steering committee of the FFR, without any political campaign on the ground or favoritism to allow the clubs to choose freely”, continued the leader.
The candidacy of Patrick Buisson will be submitted to the vote of the clubs in two stages, first on May 24 to replace the vacant positions on the FFR steering committee, after the resignation of the opposition members, then on June 12 for the election. of the new president. The name of the new boss of French rugby will be known on June 14. No other candidate has yet officially declared himself. The deadline for applications is April 24.
Blanco and Skrela independent candidates
In addition, Serge Blanco and Jean-Claude Skrela also announced Thursday that they were leaving the opposition group Ovale Ensemble. “We are no longer in line with the orientations taken by the governance of the association”, justified the two men, who will present themselves “in an individual capacity” in the partial elections of May.
“We have the ambition to put the defense of club rugby back at the center and to bring together all of French rugby in support of the XV of France,” they added. A blow for the Ovale Ensemble group, led by the president of the Ile-de-France League Florian Grill, which is holding its general meeting this Saturday. He will reveal the list of the 12 candidates presented for this same ballot.