World And Africa Rugby Mourn The Death Of Jean-Luc Barthes

In a sad turn of events the Rugby Services Manager (Africa), Mr. Jean-Luc Barthes, passed away on Wednesday the 10th of February in his home near Castres in France.

His untimely death was announced to the Africa Rugby Family in a letter by Mr. Abdelaziz Bougja, President of Africa Rugby.

Paris, February 10th 2016
Dear Presidents, dear friends
It is with great sadness that we have heard of the passing of Jean-Luc Barthès this morning of the 10th of February in his home near Castres in France.

Rugby Services Manager Africa for World Rugby, Jean-Luc dedicated his last fourteen years to the development of rugby on the African continent. He worked tirelessly with all our unions to promote our sport and its values. As President of Rugby Africa when I appointed him fourteen years ago, I knew he would be the right man to serve in Africa.

Initially based in Morocco then in France, Jean-Luc was truly passionate about rugby and Africa. Sincere, honest, hard-working as well as open-minded and friendly, Jean-Luc was appreciated and respected by the whole African rugby family. More than a colleague, we have lost a dear and valued friend today.

His Rugby Africa legacy is huge and we all owe him a lot. He will be sorely missed and is leaving a void in our association but we shall try our utmost to carry on his work in his memory. I wish to present my sincere condolences to the global rugby family as we lose a most faithful servant.

Jean-Luc passed away surrounded by his wife Janick and his daughter Lola, Rugby Africa’s communication manager. Our thoughts go to them as well as to Lou and Delphine, his two other daughters and Elena his grand-daughter and all his close relatives and loved ones.

Thank you Jean-Luc, rest in peace.
Abdelaziz Bougja
Rugby Africa President
Mr. Herbert Mensah, President of the Ghana Rugby Football Union, expressed his and the Ghana Rugby Family’s condolences as follows:

Dear Mr. Bougja
The Ghana Rugby Family and I are so sorry to hear about the death of Mr. Jean-Luc Barthes, Rugby Services Manager (Africa) of World Rugby. Mr. Barthes always showed sincerity in the development of Rugby on the African Continent and it was indeed a shock when we received your letter of condolences announcing his untimely passing yesterday.

During my meetings with Mr. Barthes in Dublin and Paris I got a sense of his passion for Rugby and his deep desire to help grow and develop the Game through World and Africa Rugby’s support to Ghana and other Rugby nations in Africa.

He will be greatly missed and my administration and I would like to express our deepest condolences to his World and Africa Rugby Family, as well as to his wife Janick, his daughters Lola, Lou and Delphine, his grand-daughter Elena and all his loved ones.

May God give them strength and comfort in these trying times.

Yours sincerely,
Herbert Mensah
President: Ghana Rugby Football Union