The French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced the Altrad Group as the new jersey sponsor for the men’s national team, according to LE PARISIEN. The five-year, €35M ($42M) deal will begin with the Six Nations tournament in February. The FFR ethics committee “had reservations before signing the contract.” The committee considered it necessary to “provide safeguards to guarantee the absence of any favoritism on the part of the FFR toward the club which the jersey partner owns.” Altrad Group Owner Mohed Altrad also owns Top14 side Montpellier. In July, French newspaper JDD uncovered an image rights contract between FFR President Bernard Laporte and Altrad. The paper also evoked suspicions that Laporte "pressured the FFR’s appeal board to reduce sanctions on Montpellier." The image contract between Laporte and Altrad has since been disbanded. Laporte said that the Altrad Group was the “only business that answered the call for tenders.” In a statement, Laporte said, “I take note of the recommendations of the report to ensure the sense of impartiality” (LE PARISIEN, 1/8).
