24 Facts About Bernard Laporte

Bernard Laporte was born on 1 July 1964 and is a rugby player, coach and former French Secretary of State for Sport.

From 1999 to 2007, Laporte was the head coach of the France national team.

Bernard Laporte was the first fully professional head coach of France.

Bernard Laporte was president of the French Rugby Federation from December 2016 to January 2023.

Bernard Laporte played rugby union at scrum-half and won the French Under-21 championship with UA Gaillac in 1983 and then again in 1984, in which he was captain.

Bernard Laporte's first coaching role was in the early 1990s, when he was assistant coach of the Stade Bordelais University club between 1993 and 1995.

Bernard Laporte took over at Stade Francais in 1995, who were in the third division at the time.

Bernard Laporte took them right up to the first division in three seasons, winning the respective championships.

Bernard Laporte took over as head coach of the national team at the end of 1999.

Bernard Laporte drew on the experience of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, where France had been losing finalists.

Bernard Laporte became renowned for his commitment to improving discipline; he even suspended captain Fabien Pelous once for foul play.

Bernard Laporte said that discipline was not only important for team morale, but for promoting the game of rugby:.

Bernard Laporte was appointed on 22 October 2007 as Secretary of State for Sports only.

Bernard Laporte was involved in the disputes between the Amaury Sport Organisation, organizers of the Tour de France, the French Cycling Federation and the Union Cycliste Internationale.

Bernard Laporte left this cabinet office on 23 June 2009, and was succeeded by Rama Yade.

Bernard Laporte returned to rugby coaching at Bayonne in 2010, but lasted only two months.

Bernard Laporte was then involved with Stade Francais until being signed by Toulon.

Bernard Laporte was elected president of the French Rugby Federation in late 2016.

Bernard Laporte was elected during the general assembly of World Rugby in Kyoto, at the expense of the president of the South African Federation, Mark Alexander.

In July 2019, Bernard Laporte was elected vice-president of the Six Nations tournament committee.

Bernard Laporte has stated that he will "self-suspend" from rugby administration, but that he will appeal.

Bernard Laporte participates in a programme of RMC-Info each Monday, Direct Laporte.

Bernard Laporte's puppet is a recurrent character in the satirical TV shox Les Guignols de l'Info, who incenses violence in rugby, described as the "valeurs de l'ovalie" in a hyperbolic manner.

Bernard Laporte has named Bakkies Botha as the greatest player he coached.