French President Emmanuel Macron was booed and booed by spectators at the Stade de France on Friday during his opening speech at the Rugby World Cup, News.ro reported.

Moments after the opening, Emmanuel Macron walked up to the podium with World Rugby president Bill Beaumont. A significant part of the public booed the head of state. The applause came only at the end, after he declared open the tenth Rugby World Cup.

“Friends of rugby, it is a great pride for all of us French people to welcome all the Rugby World Cup teams and our French people,” Macron said. France hopes to win this World Cup on the pitch. She hopes to win him over in people’s hearts. With our taste for hospitality, with the quality of our facilities and our audience, In rugby, the world knows our French flavor, and this year we will show the “French part”. I declare open the tenth edition of the Rugby World Cup.