Death of a child during a rugby training camp in Futuna: members of the FFR steering committee regret not having learned about it

Plusieurs membres du comité directeur de la FFR ont démissionné. Midi Libre – Max BERULLIER

Seize membres du comité directeur de la Fédération française de rugby (FFR), opposants au président sortant Florian Grill, ont annoncé mardi 1er octobre avoir démissionné, à quelques jours de l’élection à la FFR.

Among these 16 people are several members of Didier Codorniou's list, who is running against Florian Grill in the election to be held on October 19, such as former international hooker Guilhem Guirado. The steering committee is made up of 40 members and must “animate and direct the actions” of the federation.

These 16 people had threatened to resign at the end of September to protest against the FFR's summons to court against Le Coq Sportif, which is demanding €5.3 million in unpaid debts from its former equipment supplier. The case has been adjourned until October 24, according to the Troyes commercial court, contacted by AFP.

“To the extent that the summons has not been withdrawn”,These 16 opponents carried out their threat, explained to AFP Patrick Buisson, one of the resigning members, defeated by Florian Grill for the presidency in June 2023. “The role of an elected member of the board of directors is to defend the interests of the clubs and the federation”, Florian Grill estimated to AFP, noting moreover that no board of directors was on the agenda between now and the election.

“The club has still not made an accident report"

The 16 resigning members also regretted that Florian Grill had "not shared" with the steering committee information on the drowning death in May of a teenager registered in a club "during a rugby training camp" on the island of Futuna.

"The club has still not made an accident report “accident” replied Mr. Grill. He had been questioned on this subject in an email by one of the members of the steering committee, Etuato Mulikihaame, on the list of those who resigned, and he replied to him “during the day”, copying another member of the committee, he argued. The subject was also discussed at a federal office in May, the minutes of which were validated by the steering committee.