"Everyone must feel involved in Euro 2016" (Bernard Lapasset, IRB)

"It's all about strategy; everyone must feel involved. When success becomes social and involves the broader public, it's wonderful. When France wins the football World Cup, it's great, but there are other criteria for successful organisation — it's not just about the score of the match," Bernard Lapasset, president IRB (International Rugby Board, ), told News Tank on 15/04/2014. He was speaking in the context of Euro 2016, to be held in France from 10/06 to 10/07/2016.

Lapasset was president of the FFR (French Rugby Federation) from 1991 to 2008, and head of the organising committee of World Cup Rugby 2007, the last major international competition held in France, which took place from 07/09 to 20/10/2007: "For our part, in 2007, we tried to hit every region. There were 12 stadiums — which permitted us to go from Nantes to Lens, but we also created resident cities by agreement with the participating federations. This helped build relationships."

Lapasset, who is also president of CFSI (French Committee of International Sport), knows that a successful Euro 2016 would be an important…