“Yes, in my responsibility, I have taken the decision to organize what the press has called the Estates General on August 29 to provide a framework for the future Autumn Tour,” wrote Mr. Grill on his Facebook page following a steering committee meeting where he was challenged.
“These will be working meetings, with thirty people” divided into six groups and representing all the rugby families, he told AFP, also saying he was using the expression “Etats Généraux” because it has become established in the press. In his message on Facebook, Mr. Grill indicated that he had “considered” resigning after the disappearance at sea in early August of U18 international Medhi Narjissi while traveling with the French team in South Africa.
Opponents presenting “a motion of no confidence”
“After reflection”, he decided to continue. His term ends in October and he is a candidate for re-election. His opponents presented “a motion of no confidence” signed by 19 of the 40 members of the steering committee. Among them, several members of the second list declared for the FFR election led by Didier Codorniou.
The motion, which has no legal force, denounces “the solitary exercise of power” by Florian Grill as well as the removal of “the presence of a head of delegation tour director” which has created “a vacuum in the presence of authority and the legal and criminal responsibility for these trips”.
The FFR board of directors met for 3 hours and 15 minutes on Friday to “respond transparently to all questions from elected officials following the events of the summer,” according to Mr. Grill. In addition to the disappearance of Medhi Narjissi, the summer of the French XV was marked by the indictment for aggravated gang rape of two internationals, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou, during the tour in Argentina.
Their lawyers intend to file a request for dismissal with the Mendoza (west) justice system, in order to allow their return to France. During this same tour, full-back Melvyn Jaminet was sent back after publishing a video on his Instagram account in which he made racist remarks. He was suspended for several months by the FFR.
