Noves wants to trim Top 14 down

Toulouse coach Guy Noves has called for the French Top 14 league to be cut by two teams to 12 in a bid to allow players to better adapt to professional rugby.

"I would prefer a Top 12 because we're looking for dates everywhere," said Noves in reaction to rumours that the National Rugby League, which administers professional rugby in France, could soon discuss a proposal to expand the league to 16 teams.

"I don't think a Top 16 can allow French rugby to progress," he said, adding that he favoured "less high-level matches".

"I don't understand at all what's behind it or I hope not to understand all of it. Be it for the France national team or clubs, we are continually looking for dates, not to squeeze in games but to allow everyone to prepare, recuperate and learn modern, professional rugby."

Noves added that he paid no heed to the fact that Bayonne and Biarritz, two of French rugby's so-called big names, were currently occupying the two relegation places of the Top 14.

"I remember that Beziers (with 11 league titles between 1961-84) dropped out of the elite and I'm not sure many people moaned about it.

"It's the course of history. Clubs that have gone down over the last few years would be within their rights to say: 'Why do we save them when you did nothing for us?'"

AFP