DISAPPEARANCE – Big boss of French rugby, then world, before branching off to the Olympic Games in Paris, Bernard Lapasset, who died at the age of 75, worked all his life for the success of tricolor sport.
A (second) life dedicated to sport. This is how we can sum up the brilliant career of Bernard Lapasset, who died at the age of 75 on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday following a long illness. Patron of French rugby (from 1991 to 2008) then worldwide (from 2008 to 2016), great architect of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, then of the 2024 Olympic Games awarded to Paris, the Gascon was a great servant of sport French, helping to make it shine beyond its borders. An incredible destiny for this Gascon that nothing predestined to such high office.
During the summer of 2011, he granted the Figaro the rare privilege of a day spent at home, on his land. An imposing old farmhouse in the small village of Louit (Hautes-Pyrénées) with the Pyrenees chain as a majestic horizon from the window of its large office, with very sober decoration, except for a photo with Nelson Mandela. A haven in the middle of woods and fields, where he came at least once a month. “This house is my anchorconfided to us the one who was then “only” president of the French Rugby Federation. Here, I return to the roots of my family.Born in Tarbes on October 20, 1947, he had spent his first five years in Lizos, another small village a few beats from the wings of wood pigeons – which he was not reluctant to chase: “But I am not a killer. About ten per season, plus one or two woodcocks, that’s enough…” – from Louit. A return to basics after years of fidgeting.
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With a customs officer father, little Bernard had, it is true, “experienced twenty-three moves” in his youth, however returning each summer in the countryside of his childhood, where he had his first balls, made the important on the handlebars of his first moped. In 1980, he bought this farm “in ruins”. “Every time I had four pennies, I retyped it…” He had made it the place for family reunions with his two daughters, twins Clarisse and Isabelle, and his son, Sébastien. Abandoning the suit and tie, his daily uniform, to turn into a grandpa. He also took the opportunity to forget the tumult of the picrocholine wars of French rugby during long walks.
Rugby gave me confidence. He revealed my identity. I flourished in this mixture of commitment, power, respect
Bernard Lapasset
He had long returned to his triumphant journey in the rugby family. An oval ball discovered in… Caen – a shame for this fervent supporter of Stadoceste Tarbais -, found in Bègles, before “to really take a liking to it in Agen”, according to the changes of his customs officer father. Over the years, the slender winger who rarely touched a ball had found himself in the second line. A sport that had forged his personality. “I was not very good at studying. I repeated several times. Then rugby gave me confidence. He revealed my identity. I flourished in this mixture of commitment, power, respect. I found the keys to social organization there. And, suddenly, I experienced success. While it took me three years to get my BEPC, I got the baccalaureate, then a law degree.
In 1966, then aged 20, he experienced the happiness of being crowned French junior champion with SU Agen. Ephemeral day of glory before the break. The continuation of his studies brings him to Paris. “Maybe I could have played at the top level. But I have never regretted this choice…” In Nanterre, he obtained his law degree with honors. In 1969, he graduated valedictorian from the customs school and entered the press service of this administration. For ten years. Before passing the main inspection competition. In charge of customs at Roissy, he was then promoted to chief of staff to the director. His career is mapped out. Until the day he had to choose between his job and rugby.
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In Paris, the Tarbais plays at the PUC. One day, Albert Ferrasse, its president in Agen who has become that of the FFR, notices him. “Vou want to know how it all started? One day, Albert said to me: “You are a civil servant! So you don’t do anything. Come and lend a hand to the federation. “I know it’s hard to demystify, but at first I wasn’t really excited. I was in charge of the federal magazine simply to collect some invitations for the Tournament. The trigger came four or five years later, when Ferrasse asked me to write his editorials. From then on, I talked about politics and strategy with him. I entered the life of leaders. But everyone who says I was his strong arm is fantasizing. I was 27 and he was 55. I had no influence on the decisions. Until the day I decided to enter the elective activity.»
A turning point in the winter of 1991
His rise will be meteoric. In 1988, he was elected president of the Île-de-France committee. He must then give up playing rugby, “because everyone wanted to pay the president”. Everything accelerated in the winter of 1991. Jacques Fouroux went on a crusade against Ferrasse, omnipotent president for a quarter of a century. “It would have been easy to rally me to Fourouxrecalled Bernard Lapasset. But I can’t stand palace revolutions. Twenty-three committee chairmen had allied themselves with his cause. There were five of us who did not sign its charter.The presidency seems promised to Toulouse Jean Fabre. But it was Lapasset who was elected on December 14, 1991.
Bernard Lapasset at the 2011 Rugby World Cup draw in New Zealand. PA Photos/PA Photos/ABACA
Even today, the vanquished cry treason. He will however be elected four times. Before accessing, in 2008, the supreme function: president of the International Rugby Federation. A French “big boss” in an Anglo-Saxon universe, the tour de force was to be saluted… At the head of French rugby, he helped to maintain the ridge line between the amateur world and professional rugby, then in full crisis of growth. He also made every effort to widen the catchment area of the oval ball, which was too confined to the South-West. He also won the organization of the 2007 World Cup, an incredible popular success which took French rugby to a new dimension. It was time, then, to embrace a greater destiny. His two terms at the head of World Rugby, he devoted them to making the oval ball known throughout the world. Opening the umbrella body to emerging countries, awarding the 2019 World Cup to Japan, promoting the integration of Argentina into the competition for leaders from the South, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
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Nearly thirty years in this environment had made him want to take up another challenge: the French candidacy for the Olympic Games. The founder of Paris 2024 had, once again, won the fight, before becoming honorary president of the organizing committee. Imposing from the top of his ninety-one meter, he was careful however not to put himself forward, to place the athletes at the heart of the project.
A great man for rugby. His legacy will be eternal
coach of the Blues under the presidency of Lapasset and former president of the FFR
As soon as his death was announced on Wednesday morning, tributes continued to rain as Bernard Lapasset had worked for the greatness of French sport. What did not fail to underline the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra: “France is losing a great lover of sport and one of its best historic ambassadors.“A statement shared by Tony Estanguet, the president of the organizing committee of the Paris Olympics. “Bernard Lapasset was an extraordinary sports leader. Epicurean, altruistic and benevolent, I appreciate how lucky I was to grow up alongside him. His passing is a huge loss.”
In the world of the oval ball, the emotion was just as strong. “A great man for rugby. His legacy will be eternal.” underlined Bernard Laporte, coach of the Blues under his presidency and former president of the FFR. “An emblematic figure of French rugby. Its impact will go down in history. extended Fabien Galthié, the current coach of the XV of France. Unanimous praise.
