“It is in everyone’s interest, including the players, to play against teams they have never met: it will raise the level of our domestic competitions, including the Top 14, and it will bring, in fact, a plus for our France team, ”explained Bouscatel to AFP.
“The advantage is to raise the level of the European Cup by raising the level of the domestic championships. It will rebalance the forces, ”continued the leader.
EPCR announced on Thursday that five South African franchises will join the two European Cups from next season.
The Cape Stormers, the Pretoria Bulls, the Durban Sharks will play in the Champions Cup while the Johannesburg Lions and the Bloemfontein Cheetahs will play in the European Challenge.
This decision made some players in the Top 14 wink, starting with the president of La Rochelle Vincent Merling, freshly champion of Europe, who denounces “a loss of identity”.
“We have to see how things are going to be organised, the trips are going to be a bit long. The advantage is that there is no jet lag but it will be tough all the same. We have to see how the matches are going to be set in relation to the Top 14 schedule, ”said Stade Français player Pierre-Henri Azagoh to AFP.
“If we have to go, we will. It’s a great experience to go there, play against South African teams. But it’s true that it’s not close, it’s going to take time, it’s going to be a bit tiring but also rewarding, ”added the second international line.
“It risks distorting the interest, the history of this competition a little bit. Personally, I find it a bit weird, ”said Racing 92 center Henry Chavancy on Friday during a press briefing.
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