French Rugby Federation indicted in tragic disappearance of Medhi Narjissi

French Rugby Federation President Florian Grill. Pic: ©INPHO/Dave Winter.

The French Rugby Federation has been indicted in the case involving the disappearance at sea of 17-year-old Toulouse player Medhi Narjissi while on ​a junior national team tour of South Africa, but denies ‌culpability and says it will continue to assist the investigation.

Narjissi went missing during a team outing to a Cape Town beach as France prepared for a five-nation Under-18 ​competition in August 2024.

The outing was later described as "poorly supervised" by ​an FFR report, with the players allowed to swim in ⁠the ocean despite warnings of dangerous rip currents.

FFR president Florian Grill appeared ​before judge Agnes Navarro in Agen on Friday, providing a four-hour testimony ​that ended with the organisation being indicted, meaning they can be held legally liable for Narjissi's death.

"We take note of the decision to place the FFR under formal investigation ​as a legal entity. This is an intermediate stage in the proceedings ​and in no way constitutes a declaration of guilt. This tragedy continues to shake ‌the ⁠world of rugby," FFR lawyer Mathias Chichportich said in a statement.

"The decision to organise a recovery swim in a location dangerous for bathing is a serious mistake, but it is in no way attributable to the Federation. ​It is all the ​more incomprehensible as ⁠it was neither planned, nor authorised, nor validated.

"While it is understandable that the suffering of the Narjissi family ​leads them to direct their anger at the (FFR), the ​criminal liability ⁠of the FFR cannot be engaged. This decision is therefore open to legal challenge.

"The FFR will continue, as it has done from the outset, to cooperate ⁠fully ​with the justice system, in full respect of ​the procedure."

The teenager had recently signed for Top 14 side Toulouse and was the son ​of former Morocco men's captain Jalil Narjissi.

Reuters