Presidency of the FFR: Florian Grill will formalize his candidacy in mid-July

Florian Grill is expected to announce his candidacy for a new term in a month. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

The president of the French Rugby Federation Florian Grill will present his candidacy for re-election “in mid-July”, he announced this Wednesday, June 12, on the sidelines of a press conference to review his position after a year at the head of the body.

"It's an open secret that I am a candidate. We are carrying out our mandate, we are doing it up to and including the congress. I'm not in the campaign (…) It's an open secret but I will present my candidacy in mid-July, once the congress is over. I don't want to pollute the FFR congress" planned in Poitiers, from July 4 to 6, assured Grill.

The federal election will take place on October 19, he had already announced to AFP at the start of the year.

Codorniou only declared candidate

At present, only the former center of Narbonne and Toulouse Didier Codorniou has declared himself a candidate.

Florian Grill was elected president of the FFR in June 2023 and succeeded treasurer Alexandre Martinez, interim president after the resignation of Bernard Laporte.

Laporte, former strongman of the FFR and former coach of the Blues, resigned at the end of January 2023, during his second term, after his two-year suspended prison sentence. He was found guilty of having entered into a "corruption pact" with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad, a decision which he contested by appealing.