Disgraced Laporte will get Montpellier prime job

Controversial former French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte has been appointed director of rugby of struggling Montpellier.

Former France head coach Laporte resigned from his FFR put up in January after being discovered responsible of favouritism in awarding a shirt sponsorship contract for the nationwide aspect to Montpellier’s billionaire proprietor Mohed Altrad.

MORE: Wallabies chief sacked in late-night coup

Laporte is interesting the ruling.

Montpellier, champions in 2022, sit backside of the French High 14 desk after Saturday’s 23-16 loss to Perpignan.

“We’ve determined to go and get one of many French folks that is aware of world rugby the perfect,” Syrian-born Altrad informed newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

“Bernard Laporte has a profitable tradition, management, workforce spirit.

“It’s all of the values of rugby that we maintain expensive. He incarnates the spirit our workforce wants,” he added.

In December, former sports activities minister Laporte was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence for his monetary dealings with Altrad.

He was additionally banned from holding any rugby put up for 2 years, however that’s suspended pending his attraction.

“I don’t have a remark to make a few course of that’s beneath attraction,” Altrad mentioned.

“My way of thinking is to give attention to the membership and rugby emergency,” he added.

Laporte additionally resigned from his function as World Rugby vice-chairman, months earlier than France hosted this 12 months’s Rugby World Cup.

The 59-year-old guided Les Bleus to the World Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2007 as head coach and has membership expertise with the likes of Stade Francais and Toulon.

He’ll hope to show issues round at Montpellier working above head coach and former England front-row ahead Richard Cockerill.

Their subsequent recreation is internet hosting promoted Oyonnax on Saturday.

Laporte replaces fellow ex-France boss Philippe Saint-Andre, who stays at Montpellier to take care of the game’s authorities, Altrad mentioned.

Picture: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP