Paris (AFP)
Eric de Cromières, president of Clermont since 2013, died on the night of Wednesday to Thursday at the age of 66 from cancer, the Auvergne club announced Thursday morning.
The state of health of Mr. de Cromières, who had announced in early July in La Montagne to fight this cancer since the end of winter, had "deteriorated rapidly" in recent weeks, said the spokesperson for the club, contacted by AFP. The administration committee will meet in the coming days to designate a successor.
Under his leadership, ASM won its second French title in 2017, as well as the European Challenge in 2019, reached the European Cup final twice (2015 and 2017) and the final twice. of the Top 14 (2015 and 2019).
Former Michelin executive, Eric de Cromières was dubbed in 2012 by his predecessor René Fontès, historic leader of the ASM who died of a heart attack in 2019.
Fontès had raised the Jaunards to the highest national level, who had finally lifted the Brennus Shield in 2010 after losing three consecutive finals. De Cromières kept them in the French and European gratin with the same recipe, a policy of stability - Franck Azéma has been a manager since 2014 - based on the training of young people from the club and recruitment on a case-by-case basis. The Clermont Espoirs won a 6th national title in 2018.
A fine diplomat but firm, placid and full of common sense, De Cromières opposed the establishment of federal contracts in early 2017, a desire of Bernard Laporte, who became president of the French Federation. He then participated in the commission to find a way out of the crisis between the Federation and the League.
"It is the outcome that can be unpleasant, but cancer itself, for me it is a disease like any other," he put into perspective at the beginning of July by announcing his cancer. He was still participating in meetings for the resumption of club competitions, interrupted in early March by the health crisis.
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