Pushed in January 2023 to resign from the presidency of the French Rugby Federation after his two-year suspended prison sentence for having entered into a “corruption pact” with Mohed Altrad, president of Montpellier, Bernard Laporte returns as director rugby of the Hérault club.
Bernard Laporte replaces Philippe Saint-André at the head of Montpellier, red lantern in Top 14, as director of rugby, announced the president of the Hérault club Mohed Altrad in the JDDSunday November 19, and officially confirmed in the morning via a press release from the MHR.
Former coach of the XV of France and president of the FFR, Bernard Laporte “it’s the culture of winning, leadership, team spirit”explained the Franco-Syrian businessman in the Sunday Newspaper. This new collaboration between the two men resonates like a bolt from the blue, less than a year after their joint conviction in a case of active corruption, influence peddling and abuse of corporate assets.
At the head of the FFR until January 2023, Bernard Laporte was forced to leave his chair during his second term, pushed to resign after his two-year suspended prison sentence and a 75,000 euro fine on December 13, 2022 by the Paris criminal court, for having entered into a “corruption pact” with the same Mohed Altrad, a pact linked in particular to the sponsorship of the XV of France jersey.
The former boss of the Federation had also been banned from exercising any function related to rugby for two years. Decisions which he appealed and which, in fact, were suspended. The boss of the MHR received an 18-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 50,000 euros.
“Today, we decided to seek out one of the best French experts in world rugby”, justified the president of the MHR, last in the Top 14 ranking since his defeat Saturday afternoon on the lawn of Perpignan (23-16). Bernard Laporte “will exclusively supervise and coordinate the sporting aspects of the club. His role will be to provide his expertise to improve the team’s performance. We also expect that his aura and natural leadership will allow us to regain cohesion within the team.”
At the head of the French XV, Bernard Laporte, former Secretary of State for Sports (2007-2009), led to victory in four Six Nations Tournaments, including two Grand Slams (2002, 2004). He had previously managed Stade Bordeaux, Stade Français and Toulon, notably winning two French championships (1998, 2014) and three European Cups (2013, 2014, 2015).
The arrival of Bernard Laporte does not mean the departure of Philippe Saint-André, who “will continue to support the club with the general managementinsisted Mohed Altrad. He will take care of ‘regular’ questions and relations with the authorities”, he clarified. Having become director of rugby at MHR, he was replaced as manager by former English international hooker Richard Cockerill.