Rugby: Bernard Laporte appointed by Mohed Altrad to take charge of Montpellier

They were sentenced less than a year ago “Corrupt Agreement” And here they are reunited: the president of Montpellier Rugby Club, Mohed Altrad, has appointed Bernard Laporte, the former president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), as the club’s director of rugby.

Mr Laporte will replace Philippe St-Andres at the helm of Montpellier Hero Rugby (MHR), a Red Lantern in the Top 14, Mr Altrad announced on Sunday 19 November. Sunday magazine. Bernard Laporte “It’s a winning culture, leadership, team spirit”Franco-Syrian businessman justified in the weekly.

This new partnership between the two men comes as a blow, less than a year after their joint convictions for active corruption, influence peddling and misappropriation of corporate assets.

Heading the FFR until January 2023, Bernard Laporte was forced to resign for a second term, forced to resign after a two-year suspended sentence and a 75,000 fine on 13 December 2022 by the Paris Criminal Court. To enter a “Corrupt Agreement” The same with Mohed Altrad, a pact linked to the France XV shirt sponsorship. A decision he appealed.

The MHR boss received a suspended prison sentence of eighteen months and a fine of €50,000.

Montpellier Red Lantern

Bernard Laporte, former Secretary of State for Sport (2007-2009), will take over from South Africa’s Jake White (2015), New Zealand’s Vern Cotter (2017) and, respectively, Philippe St-Andre from 2020.

As a coach, Bernard Laporte managed Stade Bordeaux, Stade Français and Toulon, notably winning two French championships (1998, 2014) and three European Cups (2013, 2014, 2015). A former France XV coach, he won six Nations tournaments with the Blues, including two Grand Slams (2002, 2004).

“Today we decided to look for one of the best French experts in world rugby”assured the president of Montpellier, in the last top 14 ranking after the defeat on the lawn of Perpignan on Saturday afternoon (23-16).