FFR elections: Laporte candidate for a new mandate - France 24

Paris (AFP)

Bernard Laporte, outgoing president, is a candidate for a second term as president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), he told AFP on Tuesday, just under three months before the election.

"I waited for the general assembly on Saturday, the last preceding the election, to see what the clubs thought about it. When I see the plebiscite we had, it encourages me and my team to continue and transform the test, "said Laporte, who has been in office since 2016, in an interview with AFP.

The elections are scheduled for October 3 when the opposition, led by the president of the Ile-de-France league Florian Grill, had asked for a postponement due to the health crisis.

"I do not declare myself late. With what we experienced, we had to be at work, with the clubs. The proof, with the stimulus plan, was a lot of work, a lot of videoconferences. In addition , I was elected vice-president of World Rugby and there too, it was a lot of video at the same time. It's normal but I preferred to stay at work to accompany the clubs and declare myself at the last moment ", assured the outgoing president, elected in 2016 at the expense of outgoing Pierre Camou.

"I will remain president until October 3: I do not believe that an institution like ours can do without president," he added.

The former coach of the Blues (1999-2007) will explain his program, "focused on fifteen strong subjects", as well as his list, "in a few days".

But no question of turning everything upside down. "We are going to continue the work. We started on 44 engagements, we made a lot. There are some who are in the middle of the realization phase, all is not finished (...) We have done a lot for the clubs but we want to continue to listen to clubs and to be a federation that donates to clubs, "said Laporte, 56.

"I want to accelerate the reforms, that the federation is even closer to the clubs, more at the service of the clubs, that it gives them even more means. I know that emancipation goes through the clubs, that they have the means to work well, "said Laporte.

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