World Rugby has been thrown into crisis with Bernard Laporte suspending himself as vice-chairman after he was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined €75,000 by a French court after being found guilty of corruption charges.
The verdict comes just nine months before France hosts the World Cup, over which there now hangs a considerable cloud.
World Rugby convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday night and confirmed the matter would be referred to its ethics officer, who may take further action.
Laporte, who is also president of the French rugby federation (FFR), was found guilty of a number of charges at a trial over influence peddling and illegally acquiring assets, including one relating to a £1.5m jersey sponsorship contract for the national team, awarded to friend and billionaire owner of the Top 14 champions Montpellier, Mohed Altrad.
Laporte has been banned from all rugby activity for two years but through his lawyer has signalled his intention to appeal against the sentence, meaning he will remain in place as FFR president in the interim. That position was coming under increasing pressure on Tuesday night, however, with Florian Gill, who ran against Laporte in the most recent FFR presidential election, insisting: “It is unheard of in rugby, this is an earthquake. We think the 40 members of the board of directors should draw the obvious conclusions and resign.”
Laporte was the running mate of the chairman Bill Beaumont in the 2020 World Rugby election and the governing body will face pressure to act decisively so close to a World Cup that has already been tainted by scandal. His self‑suspension is pending his appeal.
Claude Atcher was sacked in October as France 2023 chief executive for overseeing an alleged “climate of terror” at the tournament organising committee. on Tuesday he was also fined €5,000 as part of the trial. Altrad, meanwhile, was sentenced to an 18-month suspended jail term and fined €50,000. Altrad Group was also a sponsor of the 2021 women’s World Cup and in August last year signed a lucrative deal to sponsor the jerseys of the All Blacks.
“World Rugby notes the decision by World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte to self-suspend from all positions held within its governance structures with immediate effect following his conviction by the French court in relation to domestic matters, and pending his appeal,” read a statement. “While acknowledging Laporte’s self-suspension and right of appeal, given the serious nature of the verdict World Rugby’s executive committee has referred the matter to its independent ethics officer for review in accordance with its integrity code.”
It was found that in 2017 Laporte had agreed to appear in Altrad conferences and was paid €180,000 for reproducing his image rights. Later that year he signed the sponsorship deal with Altrad, an arrangement that was renewed in 2018. Additionally, Laporte was accused of interfering on Altrad’s behalf in a disciplinary matter. The summary was handed down on Tuesday in a French court with Laporte found guilty on four of five charges.
Meanwhile the Barbarians have confirmed that Eddie Jones will make a swift return to Twickenham as head coach of the invitational side, less than six months after his sacking by England – as revealed by the Guardian last week.
Jones will take charge of the Barbarians for a second time in a fixture against a World XV led by Steve Hansen on 28 May. Jones said: “I am very much looking forward to returning to Twickenham Stadium – a venue I have so many fond memories of – as head coach of the Barbarians, and I’m more motivated than ever to put on a show.”
