It is a small piece of the glory of the XV of France in the 1980s which died out overnight from Friday to Saturday. Guy Laporte, the former opening half of the Blues died at 69, victim of a heart attack. He had been transported to Rangueil hospital in Toulouse in critical condition, before dying in the evening.
In the early 1980s, Jacques Fouroux had selected the Graulhet player alongside Pierre Berbizier. It is in particular thanks to the precision of its kicks on penalties and drops that France had succeeded in the Grand Slam in 1981 in the Five Nations Tournament.
Sixteen times selected with the France team, he will add a second Tournament in 1986 to his list. A year later, Guy Laporte will travel to New Zealand and Australia for the first World Cup in the history of the oval ball.
Municipal and regional councilor
Despite a semi-final of the French Championship in 1986, Guy Laporte never knew the joy of a title with his club Graulhet, of which he became the co-president three years ago.
At the end of his playing career, he traded his jersey for a big manager’s overcoat: elected federally on Bernard Lapasset’s list, in 1993 he became chairman of the selection committee and manager of the XV of France and tour director.
At the same time, Laporte had also invested in politics. On the right wing. Manager of a leather and skins company in Graulhet, he was elected municipal and regional councilor under the RPR label. In 1989, candidate for mayor of Graulhet, he was beaten by only 15 votes.
In a press release, the Sporting Club Graulhétois expressed its astonishment and infinite sadness: “Much more than a President, always worried regarding his protégés, Guy was a real dad for his players. A great gentleman has just left us and joined the oval pantheon”.