Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal hammered in LNR president vote

Toulon boss Mourad Boudjellal won just three per cent of the votes in his bid to depose Paul Goze as president of Ligue National de Rugby (LNR) which oversees the professional game in France.

Goze was re-elected with a resounding 97 per cent of votes in his favour.

"I'm personally happy with this election," said Goze.

"Particularly because a re-election is always somewhat delicate because you have a track record that leaves you open to criticism."

Goze joked that his overwhelming victory was "Soviet-like", while beaten contender Boudjallel ironically called his failed bid a "big surprise" and dubbed French rugby officialdom an "oligarchy".

Goze, who took over the LNR in 2012, will now be in charge until 2020, when he is forced to stand down after the maximum two prescribed mandates.

The LNR oversees France's elite professional division, the Top 14, as well as the second-tier Pro D2