A "France-2023 progress report" was however on the agenda of this GA.

But there was never any question of it during the more than three hours of debate, followed by videoconference by AFP.

Questioned by AFP, the FFR replied that the subject had been discussed "during the Agora of clubs" on Friday, without giving more details on what had been said.

Claude Atcher did not appear at the GA.

Seized by the Minister of Sports, the Labor Inspectorate launched an investigation at the headquarters of France-2023 after an article published on June 22 by the sports daily describing "management by terror" implicating in particular the director general of the Groupement of public interest (GIP) France-2023, against a backdrop of burn-outs, resignations and anxiety attacks.

A 62% shareholder of the GIP alongside the State (37%) and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF, 1%), the FFR immediately convened the economic and social committee (CSE) of France-2023, at the at the end of which it had been decided to set up a toll-free number "in order to guarantee the reporting of reports anonymously", as well as a "social audit".

Claude Atcher, responsible for organizing the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, on December 14, 2020 in Paris FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

Questioned by AFP on the evening of the publication of the investigation, Claude Atcher had not wished to react, affirming only "to let the people responsible for seeking the truth do their job".

Critics "more destructive"

In his speech on Saturday, the president of the FFR Bernard Laporte only alluded to criticisms "more systematic, sometimes infamous and accusatory, more destructive" against him.

But, he added, "it doesn't matter": "in our sport, we face up, we don't get around the difficulty, we don't whine through the media".

The GA was an opportunity for the FFR and the National Rugby League (LNR) to present their new agreement, running over the period 2022-2027, and which was approved by 85.99% of the votes.

"This ambitious agreement reflects a shared desire to place the players and teams of France in the best conditions as two major sporting events approach: the 2023 World Cup and Paris-2024", welcomed the FFR in a communicated.

René Bouscatel, president of the National Rugby League, on March 23, 2021 at the LNR headquarters in Paris Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

This agreement allows, in particular, as was the case this year, the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié to benefit from a group of 42 players made available by their clubs during the international windows (summer and autumn tours, tournament Six Nations and World).

Asked by a manager about a recent decision by the Versailles administrative court, ordering the FFR to communicate several accounting documents, Bernard Laporte replied: "you teach me that."

In this judgment of June 23, revealed by L'Equipe and of which AFP obtained a copy, the court ordered the FFR to communicate these documents "within three months".

In a separate case, Claude Atcher will appear in court in September, as will Bernard Laporte, as part of suspicions of favoritism around the sponsorship of the XV of France.

He will be tried for "concealment of breach of trust", "abuse of corporate assets" and "concealed work by concealment of activity".

© 2022 AFP