French Top 14 facing nightmare ban on matches at night - report

Rugby in France is facing a possible ban on nighttime matches as early as the upcoming start of the new 2022/23 Top 14 and Pro D2 seasons. French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera claimed that nocturnal sports competitions could no longer take place this winter due to an initiative aiming to achieve energy savings.

If implemented, the initiative suggested by the minister would have major consequences on the French rugby calendar. The Top 14 in recent years has established late-night slots on Saturdays and Sundays for the broadcast of live TV games, while the entire Pro D2 programme is played at night, mostly on Fridays with one match scheduled for live TV on Thursdays.   

The ministerial aim is to achieve energy savings by avoiding the use of stadium lighting and Oudea-Castera told French media that banning floodlit matches is one option open to them. “It could be this winter, so that sport is at the heart of the desire to support the ecological transition.” 

According to rugbyrama.fr, the Ligue Nationale de France told L’Equipe in reply: “Professional rugby has taken the full measure of the climate emergency and the need for a general policy of sobriety. Actions have already been taken by the LNR and professional clubs to reduce their energy footprint. 

“Through the LNR, professional rugby will be fully involved in the work initiated by the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Ecological Transition with all the various stakeholders, from sport to the societal effort, requested by the government. 

“There are many subjects to be discussed and this approach must ensure that the economic and organisational balances of the competitions are respected, of which the evening matches are a very important element.”

The new Top 14 season kicks off on Saturday, September 3, and the clash of European champions La Rochelle at home to league champions Montpellier has been pencilled in as a 9:05pm local time live TV game that night. Bordeaux host Toulouse with the same nighttime kick-off the following night.