Players have been banned from drinking alcohol at French national rugby gatherings under new discipline measures announced by the French Rugby Federation (FFR) following a string of off-field controversies.
Among 20 new measures announced this week, the FFR also plans to introduce drug and alcohol testing. Alcohol is now banned at the national rugby centre in Marcoussis, in stadiums and in changing rooms.
“These are places where players are meant to develop their physical and tactical abilities to the best of their ability,” said FFR vice president Jean-Marc Lhermet.
“The consumption of alcohol is not authorised.”
The decision comes as the French squad began their autumn training sessions at Marcoussis, south of Paris, earlier this week.
Series of scandals
The focus on discipline comes in the wake of a series of high-profile incidents that rocked the French team this year.
In July, fullback Melvyn Jaminet received a 34-week suspension over a racist social media post during their tour in Argentina.
During the same tour, Hugo Auradou and Oscar Jegou were arrested on allegations of sexual assault, which they denied, claiming the encounters were consensual.
In August, tragedy struck the under-18 French team when player Medhi Narjissi was swept away by a rip tide while swimming in South Africa. His body was never recovered.
National team coach Fabien Galthie has said his players have backed the measures.
“We did a questionnaire, and all the players said yes,” he said. “It was a logical and coherent development in relation to what had happened.”
France are scheduled to play Japan, New Zealand and Argentina next month.
