The FFR report condemns the supervisors and calls for their dismissal

“The decision to organise a recovery session in the water on Dias Beach was taken without considering the dangerous nature of the site,” said the French Rugby Federation.

A month after the disappearance of young Medhi Najrissi, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has just completed its internal investigation. On August 7, this 17-year-old Stade Toulousain player disappeared, swept away by the ocean in South Africa. He was traveling with the French men’s under-18 team to play in the International Series. He and his teammates were doing a recovery session organized by the team’s management on Dias Beach, at the Cape of Good Hope.

In its report, the FFR highlights a series of dysfunctions and calls on the Ministry of Sports to dismiss the supervisors.“The French Rugby Federation launched an internal investigation in the hours following this tragedy to determine the causes of this tragedy. This investigation, conducted in South Africa and continued on the delegation’s return to France, is now complete.”she believes in a press release on Thursday, September 12, consulted by France Bleu Occitanie.

All members of the team as well as several players were heard. According to the FFR, it emerged that “The decision to organize a water recovery session on Dias Beach was taken without considering the danger of the site, in particular that linked to the waves and rocks”The FFR is questioning whether the session should go ahead, despite the doubts of a sports technical advisor.

On site, “warning signs about the danger of the site were not taken into account”asserts the FFR. It adds that the progress and supervision of the session “appear to have been poorly managed, particularly due to the lack of clear supervision instructions given to staff members and players” and questions “the description of sea conditions” (wave height, current strength).

Finally, the FFR wonders “whether an attempt to rescue Medhi Narjissi using the lifebuoy available could have been considered or whether the members of the management could have directly undertaken any rescue action”.

The FFR is now appealing to the Ministry of Sports, which exercises hierarchical and disciplinary power. It is clearly asking it to “terminate, without notice, the assignments of the sports technical advisers in charge during this trip, due to the breach of trust which results, at this stage, from the facts reported in this report”.

She also said that she had transmitted all the information she had to Medhi Narjissi’s parents, and had sent her report to the Ministry of Sports.