Saturday, on Europe 1, the president of the French Rugby Federation returned to the controversy caused by the appearance of cases of Covid-19 within the XV of France.

"No one has violated the protocol", assures Bernard Laporte, relying on the conclusions of the investigation carried out by the Federation and the government.

INTERVIEW

It is a crucial duel that the Blues are preparing to play.

Despite their defeat against England, the XV of France remains hopeful of winning the Six Nations Tournament, but this will require winning against Wales on Saturday at the Stade de France, then against Scotland.

Invited on Saturday from Europe 1, the president of the French Rugby Federation Bernard Laporte believes that the France team is "still in the race".

But the former coach also returned to the controversy caused by the appearance of an outbreak of Covid-19 contamination within the team and the staff, at the end of February. 

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"They could not have had it", recognizes Bernard Laporte.

"But there are 32,000 cases a day. While there were 10 players and 6 staff who had it ..." And today, the leader refuses to blame anyone.

"I asked for a report because I wanted to know what had happened," he recalls.

"And I have enormous confidence in Roger Salamon, the president of the medical commission of the French Rugby Federation, who is an expert in the field, and in Éric Caumes, who is a recognized infectious disease specialist in France (also a member of the medical commission, editor's note). " 

"No one broke protocol"

"We know that no one has violated the protocol", insists the boss of the Federation, who even ensures that this protocol has been "reinforced, because we want to finish this tournament".

He himself, he assures, has "committed for three weeks not to come into contact with the players who are in this famous bubble".

The investigation report submitted by the Federation and the government concluded that no health regulations had been violated. 

To best protect the players from the epidemic, the vice-president of the FFR Serge Simon has been appointed "Covid manager" of the Blues.

"He represents the Federation to the Six Nations. He is a doctor (…) it was natural that he was the 'Covid manager'", indicates Bernard Laporte.

"He relies a lot on the medical commission and in particular Roger Salamon."