Bernard Lapasset (born 20 October 1947) is a French rugby administrator who was Chairman of the

World Rugby World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rug ...

from 2008 to 2016. He previously served as President of the French Federation of Rugby Union from 1991 to May 2008, when

Pierre Camou Pierre Camou (18 August 1945 – 15 August 2018) was a French rugby union administrator. He was the President of the French Rugby Federation from 2008 to 2016, before he was succeeded by Bernard Laporte. Prior to becoming President of the F ...

, then vice-president took over. He is also vice-chairman of the National Olympic Committee. Lapasset was born in

Tarbes Tarbes (; Gascon: ''Tarba'') is a commune in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in the Occitanie region of southwestern France. It is the capital of Bigorre and of the Hautes-Pyrénées. It has been a commune since 1790. It was known as ''Turba'' ...

Hautes-Pyrénées Hautes-Pyrénées (; Gascon/Occitan: ''Nauts Pirenèus / Hauts Pirenèus'' awts piɾeˈnɛʊs es, Altos Pirineos; ca, Alts Pirineus alts piɾiˈneʊs English: Upper Pyrenees) is a department in the region of Occitania, southwestern France. ...

. He played a critical role in France winning the hosting rights to the

2007 Rugby World Cup The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 2 ...

and its organisation and the introduction of rugby sevens into the Olympics for 2016.

Biography

He is married and has three children. Law degree and office, he was Director of Customs (General Directorate of Customs and Excise.) before embarking on a career in rugby administration. As a player of rugby, he is junior champion of France Agen Reichel with the U.S. in 1967 and Champion of France with the U.S. Customs Corporate Paris. As leader, he is chairman of the regional rugby in Ile-de-France from 1988 to 1992, then secretary general of the

French Rugby Federation The French Rugby Federation (french: Fédération Française de Rugby (''FFR'')) is the governing body for rugby union in France. It is responsible for the France national rugby union team, French national team and the National Rugby League (Franc ...

in 1991. In 2003, he helped obtain for France, the organization of the World Cup Rugby 2007. Since 2004, he was president of ILM 2007 World Cup. On 19 October 2007 he was elected president of the IRB and thus succeeded Syd Millar. He served two terms and was succeeded by Englishman

Bill Beaumont Sir William Blackledge Beaumont, (born 9 March 1952 in Chorley, Lancashire, England) is a former rugby union player, and was captain of the England rugby union team, earning 34 caps. His greatest moment as captain was the unexpected 1980 Grand ...

on 1 July 2016. Lapasset is an Officer of the Legion of Honour and co-chairman of France Friendship Fund New Zealand. In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an honorary

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rend ...

, for services to France–New Zealand relations. He's also the co-chairman of the

Organizing Committee A union organizer (or union organiser in Commonwealth spelling) is a specific type of trade union member (often elected) or an appointed union official. A majority of unions appoint rather than elect their organizers. In some unions, the orga ...

of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Controversy

The

1993 File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peace ...

French Rugby Union Championship was won by

Castres Castres (; ''Castras'' in the Languedocian dialect, Languedocian dialect of Occitan language, Occitan) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Tarn (department), Tarn Departments of France, department in the Occitania (administ ...

who beat

Grenoble lat, Gratianopolis , commune status = Prefecture and commune , image = Panorama grenoble.png , image size = , caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...

14–11 in the final, in a match decided by an irregular try accorded by the referee. A try of

Olivier Brouzet Olivier Brouzet (born 22 November 1972, in Béziers) is a French rugby union footballer. His usual position was at lock. He has played over 70 internationals for France, including being a part of numerous Rugby World Cup squads for France. He ...

is denied to Grenoble and the decisive try by

Gary Whetton Gary William Whetton (born 15 December 1959) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played 180 matches for Auckland, and 58 tests (15 as captain) at lock for the All Blacks from 1981 to 1991. He serves on the Auckland Blues board and was ...

was awarded by the referee, Daniel Salles, when in fact the defender Franck Hueber from Grenoble touched down the ball first in his try zone. This error gave the title to Castres. Daniel Salles admitted the error 13 years later.

Jacques Fouroux Jacques Fouroux (24 July 1947 – 17 December 2005) was a French rugby union player and coach. He captained France when they won the Grand Slam in 1977, and was the manager when the side repeated the feat in 1981 and 1987. Player Fouroux, who pl ...

conflict with the Federation cry out conspiracy.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapasset, Bernard 1947 births Living people People from Tarbes World Rugby Committee members Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Presidents of the French Rugby Federation