Laporte elected new French rugby president

Dec 3, 2016 - 5:48 PM Former France coach Bernard Laporte has been elected as the new French rugby federation president.

Laporte, who led France to the World Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2007, also served as secretary of state for sports under former France president Nicolas Sarkozy.

He returned to coaching at Toulon in 2011 where he took over from Philippe Saint-Andre.

Laporte and his allies came first with 52 per cent of the votes, well ahead of the list defended by current president Pierre Camou.

Laporte has pledged to unite amateur and professional rugby, to develop women's rugby and rugby sevens as well as creating an ambitious training program.

Source: AAP