This was to be the highlight of his mandate. But the Rugby World Cup, which he had managed to bring back to France, took place without him. Excluded from the presidency of the French Federation, even if he has officially resigned, Bernard Laporte is seeing this World Cup from a little further away in France. Not invited by the new management to the opening match between the Blues and New Zealand, the former RCT coach was still in the stands of the Vélodrome to watch England-Argentina and South Africa-Scotland.
“I told my friends: ‘I always entered everywhere via the red carpet, I now want to go to the stadium like everyone else.’ And it was complicated on Saturday! People kept stopping me to say: ‘Thank you Bernard’,” Bernard Laporte testified in a long interview given to Free Midday. “Bernie” even assures that he is not bitter about not reaping the fruits of this World Cup at home: “I will think about it when I am in the coffin. There is no room for bitterness or jealousy, life is too short. »
“It more than validates my innocence”
Despite his two-year suspended prison sentence, on December 14, 2022, by the Paris criminal court, for having entered into a “corruption pact” with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad, the ex-coach of the Blues still assures that he “did nothing dishonest.” If I had taken money from the Federation, it would have been dishonest, but that is not the case, the Federation has not suffered any inconvenience. I’m straight in my boots. We are both sanctioned, but I notice that the Federation did not hesitate to re-sign with the sponsor Altrad, it’s funny, right? It more than validates my innocence. »
Bernard Laporte hopes in any case that the French XV will win the first title in its history: “What the Blues have done over the past four years is phenomenal. When Galthié took the team she was 8th in the world rankings and, today, she is in the top three, with more than 80% wins. I told the players before the start of the competition: “You are extraordinary, do something that no one has ever done.” »
Regarding his future, the former CABBG scrum-half is open to anything and wants to return to rugby: “There is a chance that I will come back. It’s not that I’m itchy but I’m like everyone else, I like to be desired. If I like an exciting challenge and someone calls me, I will say banco. I still want to win. »