The world of rugby is in mourning. After the announcement of the death of Bernard Lapasset (75), former president of the French Rugby Federation, World Rugby and the candidacy for the organization of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, tributes on the networks are linked together. Between Fabien Galthié, Tony Estanguet, Bernard Laporte or even Anne Hidalgo, here are the different significant reactions of this Wednesday.
Fabien Galthié (coach of the XV of France, on twitter): “Sad to learn of the disappearance of Bernard Lapasset, an emblematic figure of French rugby. His impact on rugby will go down in history. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Amélie Oudéa-Castera (Minister of Sports, on Twitter): “France loses with the death of Bernard Lapasset a great lover of sport and one of its best historical ambassadors”.
Tony Estanguet (president of the Paris Olympics organizing committee, on Twitter): “The founder of Paris-2024 passed away yesterday. 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.”
Bernard Laporte (former president of the FFR, coach of the Blues under Lapasset, on Twitter): “Sad news to learn of the death of Bernard Lapasset. My thoughts go out to his family and loved ones. Bernard was a great man for rugby, and his legacy will be eternal. Thank you for everything you have done, Bernard. We will miss you.”
Anne Hidalgo (Mayor of Paris, on Twitter): “Very sad to learn of the death of Bernard Lapasset. I remember a passionate man. Fully committed to the influence of rugby, Paris owes him so much in the victory of our candidacy for the 2024 Paris Games. I have a thought for his family and his loved ones.
Raphaël Ibanez (general manager of the XV of France on Twitter): “Bernard Lapasset was an emblematic figure in rugby and his disappearance is a great loss for our sport. As a player, manager and ambassador, he left an indelible mark on French and international rugby. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
Pierre Rabadan (former international third line of the French Stadium, now deputy mayor of Paris in charge of sports, on Twitter): “The transition to professional rugby in France, the presidency of the international federation World Rugby, the development of rugby 7, his return to the Olympics, the victory of Paris 2024… a very endearing person, so many memories… a major player in French sport has left us! Sadness”.
Max Guazzini (ex-president of Stade Français, on Twitter): “Sad to learn of the death of Bernard Lapasset. He was a great president of French rugby and world rugby. When I became president of Stade Français, he was always kind to me and he helped me a lot. All my thoughts to his family.”
Jean-Marc Lhermet (former international third line of Clermont, on Twitter): “French Sport has just lost one of its emblematic figures. Bernard Lapasset was one of the great visionaries of rugby, which he successfully modernized and launched on the path to professionalism. His involvement in obtaining the Paris-2024 Olympics was also decisive.
André Trinc (Mayor of Louit, a village of 200 inhabitants in the Hautes-Pyrénées, of which Lapasset was first deputy for two and a half terms, to AFP): “He was very attached to Louit (…) When he got involved in something, it was not to type in key, but to arrive at the end. He insisted on being present at all meetings of the municipal council. When he went down to Louit, one could never have imagined the high office he had been able to hold. He was in shorts and a T-shirt, very affable with everyone, very simple.
Jean-Pierre Romeu (former opener of the XV of France, ambassador of ASM Clermont, to AFP): “He was a very great leader, a great president of the FFR. It was under his presidency that rugby turned professional, which was very important for our sport. There were a lot of people who thought it would be impossible but he did it. He was patron of world rugby as chairman of the IRB. It is an extraordinary course. He allowed us to have the World Cup in France. He also brought back rugby, through rugby sevens, to the Olympic Games. This caused tremendous excitement. And then there was the Paris Games, of which he was co-president with Tony Estanguet (…) There has never been a leader with such ability in rugby. He was a great leader.”
Didier Retière (Director of Sports Development ASM Clermont, AFP): “He was a great man in general and a great man in rugby, with a vision of high-level sport (…) very respected at international level and who was able to convey great ideas, to make our sport evolve enormously. He was also a man of character, who did not let himself be pushed around, but who knew how to be accessible while being very simple. He very well embodied the values of rugby, voluntary, committed and at the same time relaxed and with great class. His presence and his aura vis-à-vis the Anglo-Saxons allowed him to also work for obtaining the Olympic Games in Paris. With Albert Ferrasse, he is the other great man of French rugby. He marked his time and rugby forever.
Renaud Muselier (former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on Twitter): “It is with great sadness that I learn of the disappearance of Bernard Lapasset. Great architect of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, he chaired the IRB. We were together in Lima for the awarding of @Paris2024. He was a tireless lover of rugby and sport.
Valérie Fourneyron (former Minister of Sports, on Twitter): “Immense sadness at the announcement of the death of our friend Bernard Lapasset. Huge leader of rugby, he had allowed rugby 7 to join the Olympics. Personally, I had chosen him with Tony to be the candidate for Paris 2024. Sincere condolences to his family.”
