L’ancien sélectionneur du XV de France et ex-président de la Fédération française de rugby va ainsi prendre la relève de Philippe Saint-André en tant que Directeur du rugby du MHR. Il renouera ainsi avec l’homme d’affaires franco-syrien, aux côtés duquel il a été condamné pour corruption et abus de biens sociaux en première instance.
Mais Bernard Laporte en a-t-il vraiment le droit ?
Le MHR préfère communiquer sur son palmarès
Dans un communiqué publié dimanche matin, le club préfère valoriser le parcours sportif de l’ancien homme fort du rugby français
« Champion de France en tant que joueur et capitaine avec le CA Bordeaux-Bègles (1991), champion de France en tant qu’entraineur avec le Stade Français (1998) et le RC Toulon (2014), vainqueur de la Coupe d’Europe avec le RC Toulon à trois reprises (2013, 2014, 2015) et vainqueur en tant que sélectionneur du XV de France du Tournoi des Six Nations à quatre reprises (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007), Bernard Laporte dispose d’un des plus beaux palmarès du rugby français », est-il indiqué.
« Dans le contexte d’urgence sportive actuel du MHR, l’arrivée de Bernard Laporte vise à sauver le club et à remettre de la cohésion dans le projet sportif. Son leadership, son esprit d’équipe, sa culture de la gagne : toutes ces valeurs communes qui sont chères à l’institution MHR ont pesé dans la décision du club.
« En tant que Directeur du Rugby, Bernard Laporte sera responsable de la stratégie sportive, travaillant en étroite collaboration avec le manager sportif et l’ensemble du personnel pour retrouver une équipe compétitive et cohérente. Son rôle consistera également à assurer une culture de performance durable et à réinstaurer un environnement propice à l’épanouissement des joueurs. »
Une affaire de corruption, abus de biens sociaux et trafic d’influence
Bernard Laporte et Mohed Altrad ont également en commun d’avoir partagé une condamnation de justice rendue en première instance en décembre 2022 et faisant suite à une affaire de corruption, abus de biens sociaux et trafic d’influence.
L’ancien homme fort du rugby français – tombé en disgrâce suite à cette affaire – a été condamné à deux ans prison avec sursis et 75 000 euros d’amende ainsi qu’une interdiction d’exercer une fonction en lien avec le rugby pendant 2 ans. Le président du club, homme d’affaire franco-syrien, a, lui, écopé de 18 mois de prison avec sursis et 50 000 euros d’amende.
Les deux hommes ont décidé de faire appel de leur condamnation et un nouveau procès devrait s’ouvrir au début de l’année 2025.
Mais en attendant, ce qui pose question est justement l’interdiction de « d’exercer une fonction en lien avec le rugby pendant deux ans » délivrée à Laporte en décembre 2022.
Une interdiction d’exercer valable ?
« Bernard Laporte m’a indiqué avoir saisi la Haute Autorité pour la Transparence de la Vie Politique et en l’état de la procédure pénale, toujours en cours, le club peut embaucher Bernard Laporte pour l’aspect sportif », indique Mohed Altrad dans une interview au JDD ce dimanche 19 novembre.
Convaincu d’agir sur « l’urgence sportive » du club, le président du MHR fait fi des polémiques qui ne manqueront pas de naître suite à cette nomination et précise les contours du poste de Laporte.
« Il supervisera et coordonnera exclusivement les aspects sportifs du club », répond-il au JDD. « Son rôle consistera à apporter son expertise pour améliorer les performances de l’équipe. On attend également que son aura et son leadership naturel permettent de retrouver une cohésion au sein de l’équipe. »
Quant à Philippe Saint-André, il « continuera d’accompagner le club auprès de la direction générale. Il s’occupera des questions ‘régaliennes’ et des relations avec les instances ».
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
2 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
6 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
1 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
1 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
2 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
4 Go to commentsThe Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
4 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
4 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
13 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
13 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
13 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
6 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
6 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
6 Go to comments