Motion of no confidence against Florian Grill and request for resignation: the president of the French Rugby Federation responds

Florian Grill visé par une motion de défiance et demande de démission. MAXPPP – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

Florian Grill's opponents have filed a motion of no confidence against him and demanded his resignation. The Montpellier resident reacted on Facebook.

Following the dramatic affairs affecting French rugby in recent months, 19 elected members of the opposition filed a motion of no confidence against the president of the French Rugby Federation, Florian Grill, a few moments before the start of a steering committee meeting this Friday, August 23 in the morning. A few days earlier, the Montpellier resident, in office since June 14, 2023, had requested a meeting of the Estates General of French rugby.

The signatories, including Guilhem Guirado and Patrick Buisson, note "the solitary exercise of power, which makes you consider the Steering Committee as, at best, a simple recording chamber. We have noted on many occasions, on a great many subjects, a recurring lack, or even an absence, of consultation and communication on important and structuring decisions for federal life."

Request for resignation

And to add : "We are alerting you to your personal and incessant communication actions, often contradictory, which in view of your institutional position, engage the responsibility, image and credibility of the Federation, its elected officials, its employees and the clubs that elected us. […] Your decision to convene a general meeting of rugby, less than eight weeks before an election of the Board of Directors and the President, seems to us, as such, incompatible with the electoral calendar."

An elected member of the opposition reportedly called for Florian Grill's resignation. As a reminder, the elections for the presidency of the Federation will take place on October 19.

"I’was disappointed"

Around 5:15 p.m., via Facebook, Florian Grill reacted to this motion and this request for resignation. A text divided into two points.

First, he declares having "was surprised" by the timing of the motion, which was tabled before the start of the steering committee, which lasted three hours and fifteen minutes. “I was disappointed, especially by the sending of this motion of no confidence without even taking the time to discuss or listen, but simply to make political and media profit from the dramatic events”, he notes.

“I was hoping – why not — to have a little support by having assumed a duty of truth and transparency in this incredibly difficult phase that club presidents sometimes experience when assuming the responsibilities linked to their office […] I was finally hoping that the FFR Board of Directors, with dignity and a sense of responsibility, would constructively seek to find the answers together”, he continues.

Resignation envisaged

Concerning the resignation request, Florian Grill assumes his positions and his assumption of responsibilities in the midst of the Jegou-Auradou and Medhi Narjissi affairs. “With the emotional charge of this summer's dramas, reacting also as a father, I confess that some of the elected officials who surround me, like myself, have of course considered this option. How could it be otherwise with the loss of a child ? After reflection, I decided otherwise."

A decision explained by his desire to continue his actions for French rugby, in the midst of a crisis and which is facing urgent situations. "The tragedies of the summer call for dignity and unity", he concludes.