FIGARO INFO – The president of the FFR announced to his collaborators his intention not to continue beyond 2024. The natural successor, Serge Simon, pushed to take a step back, new suitors are entering the ranks.
He says it and repeats it in the corridors of the headquarters of the French Rugby Federation, located in Marcoussis (Essonne). In accordance with his electoral promise to limit the number of terms of president of the FFR to two, Bernard Laporte will not stand again in 2024 to run for a third. He is also said to have given up on his ambition to run for the presidency of World Rugby. He had however dropped the opposition to Bill Beaumont, embodied by the Argentinian Agustin Pichot, to join the Englishman (elected) and pose as his successor. But eight years of federal mandate – Laporte was elected for the first time in 2016 – will have got the better of his desire for stability.
At 57, the former coach of the Blues and Secretary of State for Sports (under Sarkozy) again wants to change. And wishes to find a “normal” active life, that is to say paid (he does not receive a salary as president of the FFR). His custody, a year ago, as part of an investigation by the Economic Crime Prevention Brigade (BRDE) for suspicion of favoritism, then the imminence of the trial for “corruption», «Bribery“, and “misuse of corporate assets(from September 7 to 22) before the Paris Criminal Court where he will appear alongside Serge Simon and Mohed Altrad, have finally convinced him to change direction.
Two contenders in the ranks: Christian Dullin and Patrick Buisson
For a long time, Serge Simon believed that he would be the natural successor, the legitimate candidate. But, according to our information, he was opposed to an end of inadmissibility on the part of Bernard Laporte. His wrong? Not enjoying enough popularity with the base, with amateur rugby. A decision that affected the vice-president of the FFR and precipitated his decision to return to his field of training, medicine, via a biotechnology laboratory. Especially since he is also said to be very marked by the prospect of the trial. He also confirmed last Monday during the Steering Committee, as Le Figaro had revealed exclusively, that he was giving up some of his prerogatives and his monthly allowance to devote himself already half-time to this professional retraining.
The succession now open, with already two suitors in the ranks. The first, Patrick Buisson, vice-president of the FFR in charge of amateur rugby since October 2020, is pushed by Bernard Laporte. And this despite an initial handicap: a certain lack of notoriety for the former president of the Provence Committee (from 2008 to 2016), aged 67. The second is the Grenoblois Christian Dullin (69), current secretary general of the FFR. But also vice-president in charge of ethics and doping at the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) and vice-president of Rugby Europe. Many hats for the one who was president of the Comité des Alpes from 1996 to 2016.
The opposition led by Florian Grill rubs its hands
Prospects which must certainly delight the side of the opposition beaten by nothing in October 2016. Bernard Laporte had indeed been re-elected with 51.47% of the vote. A very short defeat for Florian Grill and his team (Jean-Marc Lhermet, Serge Blanco, Fabien Pelous, Jean-Claude Skrela), which had taken a date. Their chances of winning in 2024 now seem stronger. “ It’s all cooked for Grill, which had an excellent campaign in 2020», do we whisper in the corridors of the French Rugby Federation…
