Montpellier Hérault Rugby President Appoints Bernard Laporte as Director Amid Controversy – Latest News

To save Montpellier Hérault Rugby following its fall to the bottom of the Top 14, the president of the club announced the appointment of Bernard Laporte to the post of director. Part of the staff was also upset by the sudden arrival of Laporte, who has been involved with Mohed Altrad in a corruption case since 2017.

You said after the match against Clermont on November 11 that there was no need to worry about a change of staff, that you had confidence in the team in place… Is that that at the time you were already discussing with Mr. Laporte?

Mohed Altrad: My behavior has always been to say “let’s wait“. It’s true that in Clermont, there were four matches, including two lost at home, but it has already happened in the past. There are always ups and downs, we preferred to keep people who we trusted… We must give men time to express themselves.

What has changed in your mind over the past two weeks?

MA: What has changed? I discovered unacceptable things. Namely that a coach did not behave appropriately with players. However, when a link is broken between coach and player, it’s over. When the coach speaks to them in the locker room, they don’t respond, they don’t even look at him… It’s a very strong signal. I discovered this last Saturday morning and decided to sanction this behavior.

When a bond is broken between coach and player, it’s over. When the coach speaks to them in the locker room, they don’t respond, they don’t even look at him… It’s a very strong signal.

Mohed Altrad, president of the MHR

Why did you choose Bernard Laporte?

MA: We immediately had to find a competent replacement, since we have a match to prepare for next Saturday. I only found Bernard Laporte available… But a replacement available with one of the most prestigious records in France! He is a former French champion, who was also a great coach: he led the national team to the World Cup final and he won the European Cup three times in a row with Toulon. Undoubtedly, he was the right man, we were very lucky, he arrived at the right time.

And it doesn’t happen alone.

MA: Yes, he arrives with Patrice Colazzo who will become head coach, with Etcheto who will coach the backs, with Christian Labit who will coach the contact, and with Battut who will coach the touchline.

Are you making a clean slate in some way?

MA: Not really, out of ten staff members, only two are leaving. It is above all a reinforcement.

Some colleagues talk about a star contract. Does Bernard Laporte receive a higher salary than the norm, or does he receive the salary that any sports director would receive?

MA: That’s a false statement, he has a completely classic contract.

And what about the former director of rugby, Philippe Saint-André?

MA: Philippe has distanced himself. He is still in the club, but he helps us in sovereign functions, by finding partners, sponsors or by making interventions in the Altrad group. For example, he will be present at each match during the Six Nations Tournament to receive customers and partners.

“There is no problem from a legal point of view since the conviction was appealed and a criminal record remains clean until the verdict.”

To return to the appointment of Mr. Laporte to the post of director, there is no doubt about his track record, but there is still a matter that has linked you for several months. From a legal point of view, does his arrival pose a problem?

MA: We did everything we had to do on our side, in a context of emergency for the club. What’s more, there is no problem from a legal point of view since the conviction has been appealed and a criminal record remains clean until the verdict. Regarding the exercise of a profession, our lawyers affirmed that nothing prohibits having a job during the appeal. On the moral side, we protected ourselves by requesting the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life last Friday. We are awaiting their response.