World Rugby bosses were set to convene for an emergency session on Tuesday after the governing body’s vice-chairman Bernard Laporte was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence on corruption charges.
Laporte, who was also the president of French rugby, has also been banned from holding any post in rugby union for two years, although that is currently suspended, pending an appeal.
“World Rugby notes the decision of the French court to sentence Federation Francaise de Rugby (FFR) president and World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte on corruption charges which relate to domestic matters,” World Rugby said in a statement.
“The World Rugby executive committee will convene tonight to determine the next steps in accordance with the international federation’s Integrity Code. A further update will be made following the meeting.”
French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Paris Criminal Court also fined Laporte 75,000 euros (£64,000) for passive corruption, influence peddling, illegal taking of interests, concealment of misuse of corporate assets and abuse of corporate assets.
It involved Laporte’s relationship with Mohed Altrad, a billionaire businessman who owns French champions Montpellier.
England star Anthony Watson has described Steve Borthwick as “a ridiculously good coach” ahead of his likely ascension to English rugby’s top job. And Watson also reserved considerable praise for ex-England head coach Eddie Jones, whose seven-year reign ended last week when he was sacked following a poor Autumn Nations Series campaign. Leicester boss Borthwick, a former England forwards coach and England captain, is the clear favourite to succeed Jones. […]
