Rugby is not football. And a duel at the top between Racing 92 and La Rochelle does not box in the same category as an OM – PSG clasico. When Maxime Saada, the chairman of the board of Canal +, announced this Wednesday evening that the match between Olympique de Marseille and PSG would be co-broadcast, with Téléfoot, by his channel on Sunday evening, February 7, he caught everyone short rugby.
The National League therefore hastily reprogrammed the shock of the Top 14, between Racing and La Rochelle, which was to be broadcast on the encrypted channel at 9:05 pm. This late match is therefore finally fixed at 2:15 pm this Sunday. The NRL will not make waves. No controversy. And even if Canal + recovers the television rights of Ligue 1 and broadcasts it on Sunday evening, losing this exposure window is not considered harmful by the NRL.
“We are not n ° 1”
The Top 14 clubs would also be rather happy to leave a time slot which is problematic for them outside of closed doors. The public is always fewer, and less family, at this time. “It makes good audiences on TV, but we actually prefer to play on Friday evening or Saturday afternoon,” explains Patrick Serrière, General Manager of Racing 92.
How did the Ile-de-France club welcome this change of niche imposed by Canal +? “Sportingly, there is no problem, adds Serrière. We are warned early enough. Afterwards, if we analyze and see the reactions a little, it’s different. People on social media say rugby is a filler. I would rather say that we are an adjustment variable. After all, this is normal, we are not No.1. We are not going to take offense. “
The meeting between Castres and Bayonne has also been moved to Sunday (6 p.m.). In the other late matches, Clermont receives Lyon this Friday (8:45 p.m.) and Montpellier hosts the Stade Français this Saturday (9:00 p.m.).
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
