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France Rugby World Cup rocked by bullying accusations

The Webb Ellis Cup is seen inside the venue prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 draw at Palais Brongniart on December 14, 2020 in Paris, France (Photo by Pascal le Segretain - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

The first bombshell has dropped on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with reports of alleged ‘bullying’ of staff.

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World Rugby said in a statement that it was “concerned” by the reports of allegations that the leaders of the France 2023 World Cup organising committee created a ‘toxic environment’ in which staff were verbally abused and overworked.

French newspaper L’Equipe said it spoke to employees of the Groupement d’Interet Public France 2023, who worked at the Paris headquarters and they described a culture of fear and “management by terror”.

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At the centre of the allegations were France’s 2023 Rugby World Cup chief Claude Atcher and his chief of staff Marie Houzot.

World Rugby reacted with a curt statement saying it was “concerned” about allegations of the working conditions within the organizing committee.

“World Rugby is concerned by media reports in relation to alleged working conditions within the France 2023 organising committee,” read the statement. “The wellbeing of the rugby family is paramount and World Rugby has formally raised the allegations with the Board of the France 2023 Organising Committee and the FFR.

“We note that the matter is being considered by the France 2023 Ethics Committee and we welcome the French Sports Ministry’s call for a comprehensive investigation to be undertaken by the labour office.

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“It would be inappropriate to comment further until the outcome of these ongoing investigations.”

The French Ministry of Sports also spoke out and is set to launch an investigation.

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra announced that she had referred the matter to the Labor Inspectorate, after having “read the worrying elements reported by the newspaper The Team relating to the social climate, labour relations and the management of the GIP France 2023 teams, in charge of the organization of the Rugby World Cup“.

“We note that the matter is being considered by the France 2023 Ethics Committee and we welcome the French Sports Ministry’s call for a comprehensive investigation to be undertaken by the labour office,” World Rugby said in a statement.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further until the outcome of these ongoing investigations.”

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1 Comment
C
CT 864 days ago

In France management is top down so lots of egotistical wankers in management positions

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RedWarrior 27 minutes ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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G
GS 1 hour ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The key is realising this AB side is not what they are now but what they will be in 2025/26.


You can already see a Power bench forming, and I would highlight that people watch the AB XV game vs Munster and watch Fabian Holland - he, in the next 24 months, will be WC and bring some huge physicality to the team.


Then, aligned with Peter Lakai, probably at 7, another WC talent, the AB pack by 2026 will probably both be starting and on the bench - be rated as No 1 or 2 packs in the world.


Then, there is the usual WC talent around the backline, and the missing link is Mo'unga. Unlike in last year's WC, the coming forward pack for the ABs, is similar to the Bok pack, It will be packed full of power, and the key to this is a realitively young pack.


So I think we will lose to Ireland and France in the coming weeks, but watch out as this pack builds into - I mean, look at the tight five and loose forwards that are coming for the ABs - De Groot, Lomax, Williams, Tosi, Taylor, Ofa T, Samson T, Aumua, Patrick T, Barrett, Vai, Fabian H, Setiti, Lakai, Savea, Frizzell (understand they are attempting to get him and Mo'unga back), Blackadder, Papalii and bar Barrett, Savea, Patrick T, Taylor - pretty young in international terms.


Huge front row starting and on bench, Power locks and usual class in loose forwards - only missing ingredient is a WC 10 and with Mo'unga back probably in 2026, these ABs are trending in a very healthy direction.

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