The case, which drew heavy media coverage, dates back to the spring of 2025, when a player from the women’s squad reported to the human resources department of the French rugby federation (FFR) behaviour she considered inappropriate and amounting to bullying and mistreatment, in particular training methods judged excessive or returns to play deemed too rapid after injury.

Following that report, an administrative inquiry was opened by the Sports Ministry, which asked for Courteix, at the time the long-serving head coach of France’s women’s sevens team, to be relieved of his duties. During the process, doctors, players, staff members and FFR officials were all interviewed.

At the end of that investigation, Tech XV stated that Courteix, 53, had been found “innocent of all the allegations made against him“. The statement also highlighted the limits of the current reporting procedures, described as complex and drawn-out, and criticised their impact on the rights of the defence.

The union is also calling for a collective rethink in order to improve reporting mechanisms in sport, so as to “reconcile the protection of victims with respect for the fundamental rights of those accused“.

Courteix, who led France’s sevens women for fourteen years up to their fifth-place finish at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, remains involved in rugby and now holds an assistant coach role with the France under-20 side.