While the distrust expressed by the clubs led to his resignation this Friday, Bernard Laporte reacted via social networks by ensuring that he regretted the result of the referendum while justifying the position of his allies.
Bernard Laporte came out of the silence. While the clubs spoke out against his plan to appoint Patrick Buisson as deputy president of the FFR, the boss of French rugby made the choice to resign this Friday during the meeting of the Federation’s Steering Committee. In a message shared on his official account FacebookBernard Laporte confided that “ the French rugby family needs unity and unity » and that it was necessary « do everything to succeed in the next sporting events ».
« There is no higher priority in my eyes “, he added. Returning to the referendum which saw 51.06% of voters reject the plan he had submitted to the vote, the former coach of the XV of France did not hide his disappointment. If he thanks the clubs for having voted so massively », he admits that ” the result is not he hoped.
RUGBY. Resignation of Bernard Laporte: “we are not making a putsch, we are following the rules” declares the president of the… https://t.co/0opHTMOQ7m pic.twitter.com/3LeVng4SCx
– France 3 Occitanie (@F3Occitanie) January 27, 2023
Laporte sharply criticizes his opponents
Assuring that resigning from his position as president of the FFR is his choice, he calls on the current leaders of the federation to continue the work undertaken, not without scratching his opponents in passing. ” The Steering Committee elected by the clubs will lead this federation until the end of its mandate as provided for in our statutesrecalls Bernard Laporte in his message. The opposition, with reserve and without taste for populist formulas, howls with the putsch. It will therefore be the first putsch in history carried out by elected officials already in charge, who only follow the statutes. »
In conclusion, the former president of the FFR ” would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all the volunteers who make the daily rugby ». « I hope to see you again soon on a field or in a clubhouse “, he added. A speech that should not extinguish the embers lit by decisions that are not unanimous.
