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Laporte re-elected France rugby president

Bernard Laporte 15/11/2017
Bernard Laporte has been re-elected as France rugby president after winning 51.47 per cent of the vote.

Bernard Laporte has been re-elected as France rugby president after winning 51.47 per cent of the vote.

Laporte narrowly beat opposition candidate Florian Grill to serve a second term in charge.

Laporte’s second four-year stint will run until 2024 and he will be in position for the 2023 World Cup, which France will host.

He said: “Thank you to all for confirming their confidence in me for the next four years. I will be the president of all our clubs. We are here together for a great World Cup.”

Laporte’s rugby career started on the field and he played for Bordeaux-Begles for nine years before coaching them for a further three.

He then moved to Stade Francais in 1996 and led them to a first French title in 90 years, before taking up a job coaching the France national team.

Laporte was in charge between 1999 and 2007 and led Les Bleus to four Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams.

He spent five years in charge of Toulon and won the Champions Cup three years in a row, before moving into administration.

He was first elected as France rugby president in late 2016, going on to help them secure the 2023 World Cup and joining the World Rugby executive committee the following spring.

Earlier this year, he was announced as World Rugby vice-chairman to work alongside re-elected chairman Bill Beaumont.