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France second-rower Bastien Chalureau has denied he is racist after his controversial call-up before his country’s opening World Cup game against New Zealand on Friday (Saturday AEST).
The Montpellier player is appealing against a suspended six-month prison sentence for an alleged racially motivated attack in Toulouse in 2020.
“I am not a racist, I do not have those values,” he told a press conference on Monday, bursting into tears as he answered questions.
“What I want to say to you is that I confessed to my mistakes, that I paid my debts and I deny all claims about racist remarks.”
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the team at its training camp on Monday and told coach Fabien Galthie that he didn’t want the controversy getting out of hand. Galthie told Macron that Chalureau would front a press conference.
“If he has to cry, he’ll have to cry. He’ll have to do these things,” Galthie said.
Bastien Chalureau cries as he talks to journalists during a press conference. Inset: Yannick Larguet’s facial injuries after being attacked by the French second-rower in 2020.Credit: Getty
Chalureau was tearful at the press conference, stating that the accusations affected not only him, but also his family.
He has played six times for France and was added to the 33-man squad as injury cover for second-rower Paul Willemse.
Chalureau was convicted of “acts of violence committed because of the victim’s race or ethnicity”. He assaulted two people, including French former professional rugby player Yannick Larguet. He admitted to the acts of violence but denied making racist comments.
Larguet was hospitalised after the attack, losing teeth and spraining his neck.
The conviction led to Chalureau having his contract cancelled by Toulouse. He then moved to his current club Montpellier.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin spoke about the Chalureau controversy earlier on Monday.
“There’s absolutely no place for discrimination in rugby and certainly [not] for racism,” he said. “It’s important to recognise that we have to respect the legal process.”
France attack coach Laurent Labit said the team was focused on the game against New Zealand.
“We’re focused on preparations for Friday’s match. We’re focused on rugby and on the big event we’ve been waiting for, for four years,” he said.
“In the time we have before or after competitions, we look at all solutions and anything that could get in the way of the work or the players.”
The selection of Chalureau comes after Galthie refused to pick prop Mohamed Haouas, who was found guilty of domestic violence after hitting his wife when he saw her smoking.
Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.
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