France: FFR president Bernard Laporte resigns after corruption conviction

Colin Newboult
French Rugby Federation (FFR) President Bernard LAPORTE during the French championship Top 14 Rugby World Cup france

Bernard Laporte is no longer the French rugby federation president after resigning from his position in the wake of a corruption scandal.

Laporte, a former head coach of the national team, was found guilty of passive corruption, influence peddling, illegal interest taking and misuse of corporate assets in December.

Suspended prison sentence

He was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined €75,000 by a court in Paris, although the 58-year-old has appealed the verdict.

The news comes with the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France just a few months away.

“I can confirm Bernard Laporte’s resignation. I welcome this decision… which is a good thing for French rugby, for its values and for the future,” sports minister Amelie Oudéa-Castéra told reporters.

The organising committee has already been embroiled in a number of scandals, including former chief executive Claude Atcher, who was sacked for overseeing an alleged “climate of terror”.

On Thursday, French clubs decided not to appoint Patrick Buisson as interim president with 51% voting against him taking over in the short-term.

Alexandre Martinez, treasurer for the FFR, is the favourite to be put in charge on an interim basis before new elections will take place to determine a long-term successor.

With the entire executive committee all resigning at the request of Oudéa-Castéra, elections can now be held within the next six weeks, rather than later in the year.

Six Nations hires new chief executive

Meanwhile, Six Nations Rugby have appointed Tom Harrison as its new chief executive following the news that Ben Morel would depart.

Morel will quit the tournament organisers after the upcoming competition has finished to head up a new commercial body with French football with the aim of increasing revenue for Ligue 1 and 2.

Harrison replaces Morel having been chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board between 2015 and 2022.

“It’s a huge privilege to join the organisation and play a part in the continued development of this celebrated brand and to serve rugby union more widely,” he said.

READ MORE: Bernard Laporte given a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined in corruption trial