Euro Commission complaint filed against World Rugby
NEWS: The French league (LNR), backed by their English Premiership counterparts, have filed a complaint against World Rugby with the European Commission, AFP learned to confirm reports by The Times newspaper.
A source told AFP that the LNR filed the legal document during the week which outlines its opposition to the way the global governing body has extended the November international window from three to nine weeks.
The French top-flight is set to be without its front-line Test players such as France’s Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Virimi Vakatawa for six rounds of the domestic competition.
World Rugby has adapted its regulation nine to allow national sides to play more fixtures later this year which will include a newly-created Nations Cup and finishing this season’s Six Nations.
The Times said France’s professional clubs are challenging World Rugby’s “authority and its ability to run international rugby.”
Earlier this week World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper told AFP it was “unfortunate” the LNR had last week decided to take local legal action in a separate case but for the same reason.