FFR Elections: “The reality is that the project is colossal”, says outgoing president Florian Grill

Florian Grill, 59, on a mission for a second term as president of the FFR. MAXPPP – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

Opposed to Didier Codorniou, the outgoing president Florian Grill details a three-year plan to straighten out the finances.  

A few days before the election for the presidency of the French Rugby Federation, whose voting begins on Friday, the outgoing president Florian Grill, opposed to Didier Codorniou, believes that “the project is colossal” to straighten out the institution, particularly economically.

What do you think of the resignation of 16 members of the steering committee a few weeks before the election ?

We piloted the federation for fifteen months with eleven elected members out of forty on the steering committee and in reality, we systematically had a majority on all our reforms: this proves that the majority of the steering committee, including people who were not with us, have opened their eyes and are voting with us. My goal is to have a very clear democratic mandate for the federation, to win the regional league elections with my teams, to be able to reform the federation, because the reality is that the project is colossal: on the revival of licensees, on facilities, on economic recovery, on values…

Your opponents accuse you of painting a bleak picture on the issue of finances.

There was a diagnosis by KPMG, an independent firm: there are 29 million euros of equity, it is not 50, it is not 100. The cash flow is abundant only in appearance. We are not doing rugby and the clubs any favours by not telling them the truth. We have a three-year recovery plan, without a social plan at the federation even if we do not replace departures, and without impacting the clubs because our entire strategy is based on boosting the number of licensees.

What is your view on the craze for rugby 7s that arose during the Games ?

We are lucky to have two engines, the fifteen and the seven, a practice that is a little less hermetic. The seven is an extremely interesting lever for the progression of players, so it is also part of a performance strategy. Jérôme Daret (the former coach of the men's 7s team) often calls it the Formula 1 of rugby. It is a laboratory for rugby. I think that the seven can help and inspire the fifteen.

How to help women's rugby ?

Women's rugby is developing. But today, girls change in the referees' changing rooms, on buses, in cars. The facilities are not up to standard at all: we have professionalised girls but we have not structured the clubs. Hence the Marshall Plan on facilities. We had an envelope of 20 million, the priority of which was the women's locker rooms, and a more visible Elite championship on which we worked.

What assessment do you draw from the tour in Argentina, from the supervision of the XV of France ?

The historical model that existed for years, based on empowerment, responsibility, does not work. There was a form of acceptance of these slip-ups that could sometimes even be organized. After the Estates General at the end of August, we will arrive at a plan in which there will be controls, financial or sporting sanctions. People have to take responsibility, especially those who are lucky enough to wear the rooster.

Does rugby have a problem with addictions, violence ?

I launched an addiction commission in February. Are there problems with addiction, sexual violence, physical violence, racism, homophobia ? The answer is yes. Is it the fault of rugby ? No. We are not impervious to society, we suffer exactly the same torments. I think that for decades in rugby we have swept the dust under the carpet.”