Police searched the French Rugby Federation offices on Tuesday as part of an investigation into its president, Bernard Laporte.

Laporte is suspected of pressuring the FFR’s appeals committee to reduce a sanction against Montpellier. The French club is owned by businessman Mohed Altrad, who owns the Altrad Group.

Laporte was accused of favouritism when it emerged that a company he owns had signed an image-rights contract with the Altrad Group in early 2017.

Laporte pulled out of the €150,000 deal, but the case was investigated by the French sports ministry before being passed to the public prosecutor.

The FFR signed a major jersey sponsorship deal worth ‘at least €35-million’ with the Altrad Group this month.