FFR’s Jérémie Lecha joins Board of EPCR as RFU’s Bill Sweeney moves to join General Assembly

Jérémie Lecha.

EPCR, tournament organiser of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, is delighted to announce the appointment of Jérémie Lecha, CEO of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), to the EPCR Board.

Lecha will represent the interests of the FFR and England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) and replaces RFU CEO Bill Sweeney, who is rotating out after serving his four-year term on the EPCR Board.

Sweeney will remain involved with EPCR as he joins the General Assembly.

Appointed as CEO of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) in April 2024, Lecha has overseen growth and development of rugby in France, including dominant wins of both Guinness Men’s Six Nations and U20s Six Nations Championships this year.

Prior to joining the FFR, Lecha was Group CEO at French agribusiness conglomerate Groupe Roullier, during which time the organisation’s efforts in promoting sports and wellbeing in the workplace were recognized by the European Commission (among the top 10 companies in Europe promoting sports for its employees) and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF).

Dominic McKay, Chairman of EPCR, said: “We are absolutely delighted Jérémie has accepted our invitation to join the Board of EPCR, representing the FFR and RFU.

“Jérémie is deeply committed to the growth of rugby and brings with him a deep passion for our shared core values at EPCR. He joins at an exciting time of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup as both competitions go from strength to strength, on and off the field. I look forward to welcoming Jérémie to the Board and benefitting from his experience and passion for European club rugby.

“I would personally like to thank Bill for his deep commitment to EPCR over the last four years and look forward to his continued contribution to EPCR as part of the General Assembly.”

On his nomination to the EPCR Board, Lecha said: “I am honoured to be nominated to join the EPCR Board and delighted to accept. French rugby has such a strong presence in the story of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup and I take the responsibility of representing those interests, and those of the RFU, very seriously."

The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup welcomed over 1 million spectators to stadia across the Pool stages, with millions more viewing the matches via broadcast partners around the globe.

With the Round of 16 and quarter-final fixtures completed, the Road to Cardiff 2025 is heating up with Union Bordeaux-Bègles v Stade Toulousain and Leinster Rugby v Northampton Saints battling for a place in the Investec Champions Cup Final, while Lyon Olympique Universitaire v Racing 92 and Edinburgh Rugby v Bath Rugby bid for a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup Final. The EPCR semi-finals will take place on 3 and 4 May.

The 30th season concludes in Cardiff, where the very first final took place, with the EPCR Challenge Cup Final taking place on Friday 23 May and Investec Champions Cup Final taking place on Saturday 24 May at Cardiff’s iconic Principality Stadium.

The EPCR Board is made up of the following members

Dominic McKay (Independent Non-Executive Chairman)

Jacques Raynaud (EPCR CEO)

Martin Anayi (United Rugby Championship CEO)

Emmanuel Eschalier (Ligue Nationale de Rugby CEO)

Simon Massie-Taylor (Premiership Rugby Limited CEO)

Mark McCafferty (Independent Non-Executive Director)

Arnaud Nourry (Independent Non-Executive Director)

Kevin Potts (IRFU CEO)

The EPCR General Assembly is made up of the following members

Dominic McKay (Independent Non-Executive Chairman)

Jacques Raynaud (EPCR CEO)

Martin Anayi (URC nominee)

Simon Massie-Taylor (PRL nominee)

Abdelatif Benazzi (Fédération Française de Rugby nominee)

Giovanni Fava (Federazione Italiana Rugby nominee)

Shane Nolan (IRFU nominee)

Yann Roubert (LNR nominee)

Mike Soutar (Scottish Rugby nominee)

Bill Sweeney (RFU nominee)

Abi Tierney (WRU nominee)