The rugby market - France

1.2 A growing global market

The global rugby market is structured by the world rugby federation, World Rugby, which groups the six regional rugby associations. Within these six continental associations, there are *** national federations with *** million rugby spectators and ** million players. [***]

Rugby is played in a variety of ways, including the traditional format of rugby union, although more modern variants are becoming increasingly popular.Rugby union is the most popular and oldest of the rugby sports. It is played with ** players per team and is played on a rectangular field. The objectives of the game are to try to get the ball across the opponent's end line by carrying the ball, pushing it or passing it to another player. Players compete using non-contact and contact moves, and the goal is to use the ball to score points.Rugby Sevens is a newer version of Rugby XV and is played with seven players per team. It is faster and more dynamic than XV rugby and is often played on a smaller field. The rules are similar to those of rugby union, but the game is shorter and teams have less time to score.XIII Rugby is another popular form of rugby. It is played with thirteen players ...

1.3 The national market for amateur rugby clubs

Amateur rugby in France is the foundation of French professional rugby. Amateur rugby plays an important role in the education of young players. The FFR offers special training and coaching programs for players under the age of **. According to the same report, approximately **,*** young players were involved in these programs during the ****-**** season. These programs are critical to providing young players with the skills and experience needed to move into the world of professional rugby.Finally, amateur rugby is an important part of French culture. It is very popular in many parts of the country and is a way for local communities to connect and share their love of the sport. Amateur rugby is also an integral part of the tournaments and competitions held throughout France each year. Nearly *** amateur rugby tournaments and competitions are held each year.

Amateur rugby in France is organized and governed by a series of clubs, leagues and federations. In France, there are approximately *,*** rugby clubs spread throughout the country, each of which is organized into a league and affiliated to the French Rugby Federation (***).

Amateur rugby in France is divided into different levels of competition. The clubs are divided into six divisions: Top **, Pro ...

2.1 Who are the amateur rugby players

In France, there were *** *** rugby licensees in ****. They are a very large majority of men, **% are men and **% are women among rugby players.

Distribution of rugby players between men and women France, ****, in number of people Source: ****

Evolution of the number of members of the French Rugby Federation France, ****-****, in number of members Source: INJEP We observe a decrease in the number of male licensees between **** and ****, while the number of female licensees is growing steadily. The COVID-** crisis and the periods of confinement have accentuated the decrease in the number of male licenses. However, the federation hopes that the Rugby World Cup in France in **** will again boost the number of rugby federation members.

If the practice of the sport is still popular, it depends greatly on the sex and age of those who practice the sport.

Rate of practice of physical activity or sport according to age and sex : France, ****, in percent Source: ****

Men's rugby practice rate by number of licensees by age and gender France, ****, in number of members Source: INJEP   The FFR (***) is the *th largest federation in France in terms of the number of members, with *.*% of the total number of members in the Olympic ...

2.2 The rise of women's ruby

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of women playing rugby in France, with a growth of over **% per year. This evolution can be seen over the last ** years.

Evolution of the number of women's rugby licenses in France France, **** - ****, in number of female licensees Source: ****

After a meteoric rise in the number of female rugby players, the Covid-** crisis has slowed down the practice of the sport. However, we can observe a return to rugby among women after the crisis, and in **** the number of female rugby players will be similar to that of ****.

Women's rugby is gaining visibility thanks to increasing media coverage, with more and more frequent television broadcasts and more and more sponsorship partnerships. Some of the partners of women's rugby include major corporations such as Capgemini, Mobilize and Black Market.

changing attitudes: gender stereotypes have long been an obstacle to the development of women's rugby, but attitudes are changing and more and more women are taking up the sport.

Competitions: the establishment of specific competitions for women, such as the French women's championship, encourages the development of the sport and allows players to compete against other teams. In rugby union, ...

2.3 Youth Rugby Development

According to the latest annual report of the French Rugby Federation, the development of rugby among young people is on the rise, with a **.**% increase in the number of young rugby school members between **** and ****.There has also been an increase of more than **% in the number of women playing rugby, including more than **% in the Rugby School, as well as a significant increase in the number of supervisors who are essential to the sustainability of rugby, with +*.**% of managers, +**.**% of educators and +**.**% of health supervisors.

The integration of of rugby in the school environment thanks to the Ecol'Ovale action plan, with several concrete actions.

- The distribution of ** the distribution of **,*** foam balls to young licensees under the age of *: The FFR wanted to make a concrete commitment to the "** minutes of daily physical activity at school" operation initiated by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports initiated by the Ministry of National Education, Youth and Sports by distributing **,*** distributing **,*** foam rugby balls to all its under * years old, so that they can play rugby with their to play rugby with their friends in the schoolyard.

- In September ****, the French Rugby Federation and the Ministry of National Education for ...

3.1 Amateur Rugby Industry Value Chain

Supply of equipment and infrastructure: This step involves the provision of rugby equipment such as balls, jerseys, shoes, and pads, as well as access to infrastructure to play the sport. Training and coaching: Amateur rugby clubs provide training and coaching for players and coaches, including clinics, training sessions, fitness programs, and coaching courses. Competitive Practice: This stage includes competitive practice, whether at the local, regional, or national level, in various tournaments and championships. Clubs must organize matches, find referees and volunteers to manage the events. Marketing and Promotion: Clubs must promote their events and activities to attract spectators and sponsors, as well as to recruit new members. They should also develop partnerships with sponsors to generate revenue. Membership retention: Clubs should work on retaining members to keep them coming back and actively participating in the club. They can offer social activities, events and awards to encourage member participation. Financial and administrative management: Amateur rugby clubs must manage their budgets, collect membership dues, pay vendors and employees, and comply with applicable administrative rules and standards. Practice Development: Amateur rugby clubs should work to develop the sport of rugby, including establishing rugby schools, organizing open houses, and working with local schools and organizations ...

3.2 Institutional and governmental actors of amateur rugby in France

Institutional actors of amateur and professional rugby:

French Rugby Federation (***) : The FFR is the governing body of rugby in France. It is responsible for the management of amateur and professional rugby in the country, as well as the organization of competitions, training programs and development of the practice. It is also responsible for the selection of national rugby teams. Regional Leagues: The Regional Leagues are associations responsible for the organization and management of amateur rugby at the regional level. They are responsible for the coordination of the activities of the departmental committees, the management of regional competitions, the training and supervision of players and teams, and the promotion of rugby in their region. Amateur rugby clubs: Amateur rugby clubs are the basic actors of the rugby industry in France. They are responsible for the organization of local competitions, the training and coaching of players, the management of facilities and the promotion of rugby in their local community. They are also in charge of managing their finances and administrative activities.

As we have seen, rugby is becoming more and more feminine, but the institutions of amateur and professional rugby are still very masculine.

Proportion of women and men in the governing bodies ...

3.3 Funding for amateur rugby clubs and regional rugby leagues

Amateur clubs, like professional clubs, have many sources of revenue and significant areas of expenditure:

Breakdown of operating revenues by club France, ****-****, in percentage Source: ECONOMY OF FRENCH RUGBY CLUB ACCOUNTS td {border: *px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}

Breakdown of operating expenses by club France, ****-****, in percent Source: ECONOMY OF FRENCH RUGBY CLUB ACCOUNTS td {border: *px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} Aside from partnerships, the most important revenue streams for clubs are regional and national rugby leagues and match revenues. For amateur clubs, it is primarily these grants that provide their revenue because these clubs have access to less advantageous partnerships than the larger clubs. Evolution of match revenues France, ****-****, in thousands of euros Source: ECONOMY OF FRENCH RUGBY CLUB ACCOUNTS td {border: *px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} Match revenues which are an important revenue for the National Rugby League have dropped in **** and **** due to the COVID-** crisis which has directly impacted the finances of both professional clubs (***) and amateur clubs who receive a redistribution from the league. National Rugby League Revenue ****-**** France ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ECONOMY OF FRENCH RUGBY CLUB ACCOUNTS td {border: *px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;} The ...

4.1 Geographical distribution of rugby clubs

Concentration of rugby clubs: Rugby is mostly played in the southwest of France, where there is a high concentration of amateur rugby clubs. The regions of Occitania and New Aquitaine have a large number of amateur rugby clubs. There are also a large number of amateur rugby clubs in the Île-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Auvergne-Rhônes-Alpes regions.

Clubs in urban areas: Despite this concentration in the south-west, there are also amateur rugby clubs in urban areas, particularly in large cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse.

Rural areas: Rural areas also have a significant presence of amateur rugby clubs, and these clubs can be a key part of the social and economic life of local communities.

In summary, the geographical distribution of rugby clubs and players in France can be influenced by factors such as local tradition, population density and the history of rugby in the area. However, amateur rugby is played in many parts of the country and can be an important part of local life.

4.2 The cost to clubs and rugby fans

Costs to Clubs: Amateur rugby clubs can face many costs, including the purchase of equipment, rental or maintenance of sports facilities, travel to games, coaches' salaries, and event organization. Depending on the size and level of the club, these costs can vary considerably.

Amateur rugby clubs may seek to diversify their funding sources to cover these costs. This may include grants from local governments, partnerships with local businesses, ticket sales for matches, and contributions from club members.

Costs to fans: Rugby fans in France may also face costs to follow their favorite team, including travel costs for away games, membership fees for supporters' clubs, and ticket costs for home games.

Ticket prices for rugby games can vary depending on the level of play, the size of the stadium and the popularity of the team. Major professional rugby games, such as the Six Nations or Top **, can be more expensive than amateur level games.

Cost-cutting efforts: Some rugby teams and clubs may seek to reduce costs for fans by offering special deals on tickets or discounts for annual subscriptions. They may also encourage carpooling for fan travel and hold fundraising events.

The costs associated with rugby clubs and fans in France can ...

4.3 Diversification of practices

The diversification of rugby practices in France allows an ever wider public to be introduced to this sport and to practice it in conditions adapted to their needs and abilities. Amateur rugby clubs are able to offer a varied range of sports, thus meeting the needs of rugby players and fans.

Rugby *s: Since its introduction at the Rio Olympics in ****, rugby *s has seen strong growth in France. Numerous national and regional tournaments and championships are held each year, attracting players of all age groups and ever-growing spectators.

Adapted rugby: Adapted rugby allows people with physical or mental disabilities to play rugby in conditions adapted to their abilities. This discipline is booming in France, and more and more clubs are offering dedicated sections.

School and university rugby: Rugby is very popular in schools and universities in France. Numerous tournaments and championships are organized each year, offering young players the opportunity to learn about rugby and compete against other teams.

Touch Rugby: Touch rugby is a non-contact variant of traditional rugby. This discipline is very popular with beginners or experienced players who wish to train without risking injury. Touch rugby tournaments and championships are organized at all levels in France.

Beach ...

5.1 General regulations

The regulation of amateur rugby in France is managed by the French Rugby Federation (***) and is subject to the rules laid down by World Rugby.

The rules of amateur rugby in France are defined by a set of regulations issued by the FFR, notably the General Regulations, the Sporting Regulations, the Financial Regulations and the Disciplinary Regulations.

The Sporting Regulations of the FFR define the rules for the practice of amateur rugby, including rules concerning protective equipment, the duration of matches, the number of players, the rules of play, etc...

The Financial Regulations of the FFR set out the terms and conditions for the financing of amateur rugby clubs in France, particularly with regard to entry fees, refereeing fees, subsidies, etc.

The Disciplinary Regulations of the FFR define the rules of discipline applicable to players, coaches, managers and clubs of amateur rugby in France. These rules concern in particular the sanctions applicable in case of infringement of the rules of the game, unsportsmanlike behaviour, violence, etc...

6.1 Segmentation of actors

• ASM Clermont Auvergne