2021 – Rugby World Cup 2023: anticipating risks, securing the event

In 2021, our firm was selected for a unique challenge: to audit and map the criminal risks of the Rugby World Cup organised by the GIP France 2023. A large-scale assignment, where the slightest flaw could turn a global event into a legal crisis. The objective was clear: to go beyond the recommendations of the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA) and put in place a secure framework for the organisers, partners and thousands of professionals involved.

From the outset, the stakes were immense. The large-scale recruitment of young apprentices exposed the organisation to increased risks of harassment and employment law offences. In addition, the management of public and private funding raised questions of compliance with anti-corruption rules. Not to mention the environmental issues linked to the carbon footprint and to the construction contracts for the infrastructure.

Our firm won the tender for the criminal law lot. For more than two years, we supported the GIP France 2023 at every stage: preparation, the tournament itself and its aftermath. Risk analysis, drafting strategic memos and anticipating litigation were part of our daily work.

Multiple risks, proactive management

The challenge was not only to react in the event of an incident, but above all to prevent. We carried out rigorous audits, set up internal control mechanisms and raised awareness of criminal risks among the various stakeholders. Our areas of work included:

• Harassment and employee protection: recommendations on setting up a whistleblowing system, training for managers and internal protocols for handling reports.
• Fraud and financial offences: monitoring of financial flows, contract audits and recommendations to limit the risks of misappropriation of funds or favouritism.
• Compliance and anti-corruption: monitoring of public procurement, checks on conflicts of interest and supervision of relations with private partners.
• Environmental offences: advice on legal obligations relating to infrastructure, waste management and compliance with the tournament’s environmental commitments.

Full commitment for an event under close scrutiny

Given the complexity of the event, our firm maintained constant monitoring, ready to step in if a crisis arose. At times, the whole team was mobilised to anticipate a risk, draft an urgent memo or prepare a response to an inspection by the authorities.

The success of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was not only played out on the pitch, but also behind the scenes, thanks to rigorous management of legal and criminal risks.

The firm’s expertise at the service of major events

This assignment confirmed our ability to handle sensitive matters and to help large organisations secure their operations. The 2023 Rugby World Cup showed that prevention is key: anticipating risks, putting safeguards in place and ensuring that the event runs smoothly.

Our commitment: to give our clients full control over criminal law issues, whatever their sector of activity.