French Rugby Federation ends Altrad jersey sponsorship, Digi Mart USA News: The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has announced that the offer from the Altrad group to extend its jersey partnership beyond June 2027 was not selected. The company founded by Mohed Altrad, a sponsor since 2017, will leave the chest of the Les Bleus jersey when its contract expires.
Several proposals are still under consideration, and no successor has been named yet. In its statement, the FFR thanked its first jersey sponsor, saying it wished to express its sincere thanks to the Altrad Group for nearly ten years of commitment, according to Florian Grill.
In March 2017, the Montpellier-based group became the first jersey sponsor in the history of the French national team, a turning point for a shirt that had long been kept free of advertising. In January 2018, a five-year contract worth 35 million euros was signed.
The partnership was later renewed and increased, reaching about 10 million euros per year by June 2026, according to L’Équipe.
The relationship was also overshadowed by legal proceedings. In December 2022, Bernard Laporte, then president of the FFR, and Mohed Altrad were convicted at first instance, notably for corruption and influence peddling.
The case concerned, among other matters, their contractual relations and decisions favorable to the businessman’s interests. Both have appealed, and their trial, postponed several times, is now expected in March 2027.
Despite this background, the new federal leadership chose to continue the collaboration. In January 2024, the FFR announced a new contract that included a mutual ethics clause.
The FFR does not currently present the legal cases as the reason for rejecting Altrad’s offer.
Attention now turns to finding a partner to take over before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Le Parisien reported in June that CMA CGM, a French maritime transport company already sponsoring Olympique de Marseille, was a possible option.
The federal statement leaves the succession open, without announcing an amount or a specific timeline for selection.
The next partner will join at a strategic moment, ahead of the 2027 World Cup. For the FFR, the challenge will be to preserve a major revenue source while opening a new chapter.
After almost a decade, the Altrad name is set to disappear from the blue jersey.
