Bernard Laporte resigned as president of the French Rugby Federation on Friday as his hopes of returning to power in time for the Rugby World Cup crumbled.

The former France head coach stepped back from his latest position with the federation (FFR) in December after being given a two-year suspended prison sentence and a €75,000 fine for corruption.

He denied wrongdoing and intends to appeal against his court punishments, which meant the FFR did not immediately oust Laporte and instead decided to render him effectively powerless pending the attempt to clear his name.

Sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera called for Laporte to go in December, however, and he chose to permanently step down in the wake of clubs this week voting against his choice of president-delegate, Patrick Buisson.

Around 2,000 clubs took part in the vote, with 51.06 per cent saying they did not approve of Laporte proposing Buisson for the interim role.

The Rugby World Cup gets under way in France in September, and Laporte, president since 2016, had appeared eager to be back in charge of the FFR by then.

Les Bleus won the Grand Slam last year, and Laporte departs just eight days before the 2023 Six Nations begins.

Reports said Laporte delivered news of his resignation to the FFR executive committee on Friday morning at a meeting in Marcoussis, on the outskirts of Paris.

Oudea-Castera later told reporters: "I can give you confirmation of the resignation of Bernard Laporte. I welcome this decision, it was necessary at the end of this consultation in which the clubs were massively mobilised.

"The ethics committee played its role of supervision in this time of consultation which went well with dignified debates. Bernard Laporte drew the conclusions, which is a good thing for French rugby, its values ​​and the future."

Laporte stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby within hours of his conviction in December, which also saw him banned from rugby involvement for two years pending the outcome of any appeal.

Laporte was released without charge on Tuesday of this week after being detained as part of a tax fraud investigation.

His lawyer, Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi, told the AFP news agency that Laporte had "neither been accused of having defrauded nor of having received any money".

French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte was released without charge on Tuesday after being detained as part of a tax fraud investigation.

Laporte, who has been in office since 2016, was summoned by tax authorities earlier in the day.

However, the 58-year-old's lawyer Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi confirmed to AFP that he was later released.

"It is a case in which he is implicated for having been associated with rugby friends a long time ago," Versini-Campinchi said.

"He has neither been accused of having defrauded nor of having received any money."

Laporte stepped back from his role as FFR president in December after being given a two-year suspended prison sentence and a €75,000 fine for corruption.

The former France coach also stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby within hours of the conviction and was banned from rugby involvement for two years.

He denied any wrongdoing and is to appeal against his court punishments. Consequently, the FFR has not ousted Laporte permanently at this stage as he bids to clear his name.

Tuesday's development came as around 2,000 French rugby clubs voted on whether to accept the appointment of interim FFR president Patrick Buisson.

"It's perfectly scandalous the prosecutors have chosen the date of Patrick Buisson's election for the questioning and that the disclosure of this questioning was made on the same day," Versini-Campinchi added.

France are due to host the Rugby World Cup in September.

Bernard Laporte will step back from his role as president of the French Rugby Federation after his corruption conviction, but he could return to the top office.

Former France coach Laporte wanted to remain in charge at the federation (FFR), but on Monday accepted a ruling by its ethics committee that he must relinquish power.

Handed a two-year suspended prison sentence last Tuesday, Laporte stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby within hours as an act of "self-suspension." Now he will follow a similar tack with French rugby's top authority.

An investigation examined a number of decisions made by Laporte that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 side Montpellier, including the award of a shirt sponsorship deal for the France national team to Altrad's construction business.

Laporte, who was France's head coach between 1999 and 2007, was also hit with a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the Paris Criminal Court.

He has denied any wrongdoing and is to appeal against his court punishments. Consequently, the FFR has not ousted Laporte permanently at this stage, giving him the chance to clear his name.

The ethics committee told the 58-year-old he must accept "provisional withdrawal, as a precaution until a final criminal decision" from all presidential duties, with a temporary successor to be put in place.

According to the FFR, Laporte elected to follow the instruction "to the letter." He will remain president, officially at least, but be powerless.

"He is asked to withdraw temporarily while the final criminal decision is made," the federation said.

"This implies in particular that the president will no longer participate in the various decision-making bodies of the French Rugby Federation, and will no longer sign any commitment under the FFR."

The FFR said it intended for the action to take effect after a meeting between Laporte and Amelie Oudea-Castera, France's sports minister, which is scheduled for Thursday.

Oudea-Castera was among the first to call for Laporte to step down following his conviction, saying it would be inappropriate for him to remain in control ahead of France hosting the Rugby World Cup next year.

She has also voiced opposition to the idea of a stand-in president, questioning the "legitimacy" of such a presence at the top of the organisation.

Bernard Laporte has been told he must stand down as president of the French Rugby Federation after his corruption conviction, reports said on Friday.

Former France coach Laporte had signalled an intention to remain at the helm of the federation (FFR), but the organisation's own ethics committee has decided he must go.

According to French newspapers Le Parisien and L'Equipe, the ethics committee has served Laporte with an injunction insisting he vacates his post.

Should Laporte not follow the instruction to leave office, the ethics committee would reportedly have the power to take control of the FFR disciplinary commission and impose sanctions on the 58-year-old president.

"We could not stay outside this situation," said the ethics committee, quoted by Le Parisien. "But it took time for the members to come together, far from the media tumult, to make a decision in calm and serenity."

Laporte stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby on Tuesday as an act of "self-suspension" after he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

That came after an investigation which examined a number of decisions that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 side Montpellier, including the award of a shirt sponsorship deal for the France national team to Altrad's construction business.

Laporte, who was France's head coach between 1999 and 2007, was also hit with a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday.

The ban from rugby activities is suspended pending the outcome of Laporte's planned appeal; however, France's sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera and the French National Rugby League have this week both called for Laporte to be replaced.

France will host the Rugby World Cup next year.

Oudea-Castera said it would be inappropriate for Laporte to remain in charge "at a moment as decisive for French rugby as the home stretch before a Rugby World Cup where France will receive nations from all over the world".

The French National Rugby League (LNR) has called on the French Rugby Federation (FFR) to hold new elections after its president Bernard Laporte was found guilty of corruption.

Laporte stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby as an act of "self-suspension" after he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

It came after an investigation which examined a number of decisions that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 side Montpellier, including the award of a shirt sponsorship deal for the France national team to Altrad's construction business.

Laporte, who was France's head coach between 1999 and 2007, also received a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday.

With France hosting the Rugby World Cup next year, the nation's sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated Laporte should be replaced as FFR president, and the LNR has now echoed those sentiments.

An LNR press release said: "The LNR Office took note of the decision pronounced Tuesday by the Paris Criminal Court and of the position of the Minister of Sports.

"Faced with this unprecedented situation which is weakening the institution, and after consultation with the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2, the LNR Board considers that it is appropriate to restore appeasement within French rugby through the organisation of new elections by the FFR, as requested by the Minister of Sports.

"This approach will allow the governance appointed at the end of these elections to move forward serenely towards the major deadlines facing French rugby. 

"Whatever happens, the priority of the LNR and the Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs will remain over the coming months to mobilise all the energies of professional rugby for the success of French rugby, especially as the big goal approaches of the 2023 World Cup."

The French National Rugby League (LNR) has called on the French Rugby Federation (FFR) to hold new elections after its president Bernard Laporte was found guilty of corruption.

Laporte stepped down from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby as an act of "self-suspension" after he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

It came after an investigation which examined a number of decisions that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 side Montpellier, including the award of a shirt sponsorship deal for the France national team to Altrad's construction business.

Laporte, who was France's head coach between 1999 and 2007, also received a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday.

With France hosting the Rugby World Cup next year, the nation's sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera stated Laporte should be replaced as FFR president, and the LNR has now echoed those sentiments.

An LNR press release said: "The LNR Office took note of the decision pronounced Tuesday by the Paris Criminal Court and of the position of the Minister of Sports.

"Faced with this unprecedented situation which is weakening the institution, and after consultation with the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2, the LNR Board considers that it is appropriate to restore appeasement within French rugby through the organisation of new elections by the FFR, as requested by the Minister of Sports.

"This approach will allow the governance appointed at the end of these elections to move forward serenely towards the major deadlines facing French rugby. 

"Whatever happens, the priority of the LNR and the Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs will remain over the coming months to mobilise all the energies of professional rugby for the success of French rugby, especially as the big goal approaches of the 2023 World Cup."

Bernard Laporte has stepped away from his role as vice-chairman of World Rugby in what was described as a "self-suspension" after receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption.

The French Rugby Federation president, who is also a former France head coach, came under investigation over a number of decisions that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 club Montpellier.

Those decisions including the awarding of a shirt sponsorship deal for the France national team to Altrad's construction business.

Laporte was also handed a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the Paris Criminal Court on Tuesday, and French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said he should be replaced as head of the FFR.

France will be hosts of the Rugby World Cup next year, and Oudea-Castera said it was inappropriate under current circumstances for Laporte to hold such a prominent role.

Laporte's lawyers announced there will be an appeal against the punishments, and his sporting punishment will also be formally put on hold until that is heard. He and Altrad denied wrongdoing.

It is clear, however, there is concern both within France and at World Rugby about Laporte remaining in his lofty positions, and the self-suspension is just the first step in the process of it being determined whether he has a future with the global governing body.

He appears unlikely to be banished by the FFR for now, pending his court appeal, although it remains to be seen whether Laporte suspends himself from that role.

World Rugby said in a statement: "World Rugby notes the decision by World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte to self-suspend from all positions held within its governance structures with immediate effect following his conviction by the French court in relation to domestic matters, and pending his appeal.

"While acknowledging Laporte's self-suspension and right of appeal, given the serious nature of the verdict World Rugby's executive committee has referred the matter to its independent ethics officer for review in accordance with its integrity code.

"World Rugby will not be making further comment until the conclusion of the independent process."

French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte must leave office after receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption, sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said.

The Paris Criminal Court announced the punishment on Tuesday, after investigating a number of marketing decisions made by Laporte that favoured Mohed Altrad, the president of Top 14 club Montpellier, including a shirt sponsorship deal for his construction business with the France national team.

Laporte was also handed a €75,000 fine and a two-year ban from involvement in rugby by the court, raising the possibility of him being out of office before France hosts next year's Rugby World Cup. Altrad was given an 18-month suspended sentence and a €50,000 fine.

The court heard Laporte had taken his actions while also agreeing a personal image rights deal with Altrad that was worth €180,000 to the former France coach, according to Le Parisien and other French media.

Laporte's lawyers announced there will be an appeal against the punishments. Prosecutors had been seeking jail time for both he and Altrad.

The French federation (FFR) said Laporte would stay as president pending the outcome of his appeal. Laporte is also a vice-chairman of World Rugby, which said its executive committee would meet later on Tuesday to consider the outcome.

Laporte and Altrad had denied wrongdoing, and Oudea-Castera said the planned appeal from Laporte should be allowed to run its course.

But her office said in a statement: "In terms of good governance, the minister considers that this new context prevents Bernard Laporte from being able, as it stands, to continue his mission in good conditions at the head of a delegated federation of a public service mission, at a moment as decisive for French rugby as the home stretch before a Rugby World Cup where France will receive nations from all over the world.

"The minister therefore calls for a new democratic era allowing French rugby as quickly as possible to restart on sufficiently healthy and solid bases, with a governance of the federation which will have the full confidence of the clubs and will be able to bring people together.

"It is therefore up to the authorities of the federation that it is now up to them to take up their responsibilities."

Montpellier issued a statement that read: "The Paris Criminal Court delivered a decision at the start of the afternoon which, on the merits, is not fully satisfactory, although the sentences are very different and well below the requisitions requested, which testifies to the insufficiency of the elements of this file."

It said Altrad's lawyers would consider whether to appeal, adding: "It is essential to emphasise that Montpellier Herault Rugby is neither targeted nor impacted by this decision and that Mohed Altrad will continue to invest his time and energy in his management missions for his club, its employees and its partners."