The stands of the GGL Stadium in Montpellier will welcome a few special spectators for the match between MHR and Union Bordeaux-Bègles, this Saturday (5 p.m.).
Among the curious who will come to follow this meeting of the 18th day of Top 14, and which the television cameras should not be missing, there will obviously be Bernard Laporte, who in November became director of rugby for the Hérault club engaged in a maintenance mission ( 12th).
A certain Didier Codorniou will also be present, as a “neighbor”, since the legendary former three-quarter center of the XV of France (66 years old, 32 caps) is also the mayor of Gruissan (Aude), about a hundred distant of kilometers.
But the presence of the “Little Prince” is not only linked to this geographical proximity.
According to our information, Didier Codorniou is in fact determined to enter the race for the presidency of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) with the full support of the former president of the FFR.
As a reminder, the latter was sentenced at first instance to two years in prison, suspended in December 2022, for a “corruption pact” made with the president of the MHR Mohed Altrad.
Both men appealed.
Didier Codorniou, also vice-president (Left Radicals) of the Occitanie Region, therefore takes advantage of this match to bring together several of his supporters and discuss the future of this list, intended to confront that led by the current rugby boss Frenchman, Florian Grill, during the election on October 19.
Behind the scenes, discussions on the opposition that could arise against the man who took control of the FFR shortly before the 2023 World Cup have increased in recent weeks.
Would there be a list led by Codorniou and another led by former Blues captain Guilhem Guirado?
Finally, it appears today that a convergence of struggles has been recorded and that “Codor” has managed to gather around him.
Starting in his own region, where one of the candidates for the presidency of the Occitanie League, Quentin Estrade, called a week ago for the former player to take action.
Claude Atcher not far either
“Regarding Didier Codorniou, due to his experience and the good he can bring to our sport, we call for this desire to present himself to the FFR to be made official as soon as possible, because I will be his spearhead in Occitanie », Explained in an interview given to the Rugby Amateur site the one who wishes to “defend Bernard Laporte’s record”.
The latter also met Quentin Estrade two weeks ago.
Still entangled by his conviction, which he appealed but which led, under pressure from the Ministry of Sports, to his resignation as head of the FFR, Bernard Laporte cannot lead a list in his name in the federal elections.
But one of his supporters, Guilhem Guirado, elected to the federation's steering committee in May, should also be part of this list.
Among the personalities who should also drop by the GGL Stadium this Saturday, under the curious eye of photographers, is also a certain... Claude Atcher.
The former general director of the France 2023 organizing committee, dismissed from his functions after the revelations by the newspaper L'Equipe of accusations of "alarming managerial practices" against him, has approached the Hérault club according to our information for several weeks, where he is leading an external mission.