French authorities release report into Narjissi tragedy

The recovery session at a beach in South Africa where France Under-18 player Medhi Narjissi lost his life was poorly supervised by team officials in dangerous conditions, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said in a statement on Thursday.

Narjissi was swept away by a wave while swimming as France prepared for a five-nation U18 tournament in South Africa last month.

After an internal investigation, the FFR has called for the immediate sacking of those responsible for leading the session, accusing officials of failing to heed warnings over rip currents at the beach.

“The decision to organise a recovery session in the water on Dias Beach was made without considering the danger of the site, in particular that related to rip currents, waves and rocks,” the FFR said in a statement.

“The FFR observes that the course and supervision of the session seem to have been poorly controlled, in particular for lack of clear supervision instructions given to staff members and players.”

The FFR will approach the French Ministry of Sport to “terminate, without notice, the assignments of the sports technical advisors responsible during this trip” and to “take measures against other people who have supervised the France U18 team, regardless of their status".

South Africa’s National Sea Rescue Institute spokesman Craig Lambinon said they suspect strong rip currents swept the 17-year-old into the surf zone and out to sea.

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