As revealed this Friday by
Le Figaro
, Bernard Laporte - sentenced on December 13 to a two-year suspended prison sentence for having entered into a "corruption pact" with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad - designated Friday Patrick Buisson (65) as delegate president of the French Rugby Federation.
Unknown to the general public, Patrick Buisson – more consensual and less divisive than Serge Simon, a time expected to be appointed to this position – had been vice-president in charge of amateur rugby since 2020.
He will have to be dubbed by the 1,900 clubs in the FFR.
Read alsoRugby: the federal office validates the appointment of Patrick Buisson as delegate president of the FFR
Shadow worker within the FFR, Buisson, who is close to Laporte, had been at the origin of the digital reform and simplification at the federation during Laporte's first term as head of the body. leader.
He had a modest playing career as a scrum half, starting in Vienne (Isère) and playing for FC Grenoble in 1976-1977.
During his career in IT, he then traveled extensively across France, notably passing through Capbreton but also the Paris region (Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Saint-Cyr-l'École).
He then returned to the south of France in the 1990s, becoming a leader in the Uzès club (Gard) and the Provence committee (he served four terms).
After training with the juniors of the Uzetian club, he became treasurer and then co-president.
“If he knows how to smooth things over very well because he has an enormous ability to listen, he does not deviate from his convictions”
Actively working for amateur rugby, Patrick Buisson is known for his uprightness but also his firmness.
"
Since taking office as vice-president in charge of amateur rugby, I have discovered someone with whom it is pleasant to work, someone trustworthy who knows how to involve people in his thoughts
", confided at the
Midi Olympique
Jean-Claude Mercier, co-president of Périgueux and member of UCRAF, the union of amateur rugby clubs
.
Read also Rugby: are you in favor of the appointment of a delegate president of the FFR during the withdrawal of Bernard Laporte?
And to add: “
Better, it is someone who is able to make decisions, even if they are unpopular.
If he knows very well how to smooth things over because he has an enormous ability to listen, he does not deviate from his convictions.
“His substantive work allowed him to be appreciated by amateur rugby, unlike the more divisive Serge Simon.
Mourad Boudjellal, former president of RC Toulon, could not help but strike a small tackle in his column at
Rugbyrama
: “
Patrick Buisson is a great guy.
He will do the job, he is appreciated by all the amateur clubs and it will be better than who you know.
Besides, who could be worse than who you know?
The profile of Patrick Buisson is more consensus than that of Serge Simon with the Ministry of Sports and the National Rugby League, which have taken a stand against Bernard Laporte in this twisted affair.