Laporte has also been fined €75,000 (£64,300/$79,800) and barred from holding any position in the sport for two years.

He has taken the decision to "self-suspend" himself from his role as World Rugby vice-chair.

"World Rugby notes the decision by World Rugby Vice-Chairman Bernard Laporte to self-suspend from all positions held within its governance structures with immediate effect following his conviction by the French court in relation to domestic matters, and pending his appeal," the governing body said in a statement.

"While acknowledging Laporte’s self-suspension and right of appeal, given the serious nature of the verdict World Rugby's Executive Committee has referred the matter to its independent ethics officer for review in accordance with its integrity code.

"World Rugby will not be making further comment until the conclusion of the independent process."

World Rugby had earlier called an emergency Executive Committee meeting to discuss the outcome of the court case.

Montpellier owner Mohed Altrad has also been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence by the Paris criminal court.

Altrad was found guilty of active corruption, influence peddling and abuse of corporate assets.

Laporte now faces significant pressure on his role with the FFR, with French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra calling on him to stand down.

The case comes less than one year before France is set to stage the men's Rugby World Cup and less than two years prior to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It centred on claims Laporte had favoured his friend Altrad in a series of marketing decisions, including on the awarding of a shirt sponsor contract to the national side.

Altrad's eponymous construction company became the first-ever sponsor to appear on the French national team's shirts following a €1.8 million (£1.5 million/$1.9 million) deal in 2017.

The court also found that Laporte benefited from a €180,000 (£154,000/$192,000) image licensing contract that was never carried out.

Laporte's lawyer has said he plans to appeal.

Prosecutors had sought a three-year prison sentence for Laporte, two of which would have been on probation, at the conclusion of the trial in September.

FFR vice-president Serge Simon was acquitted of charges of illegal taking of interest.

Former France 2023 Rugby World Cup Organising Committee chief executive Claude Atcher and his business partner at marketing company Score XV Benoît Rover were acquitted of the charge of misuse of corporate assets.

Atcher and Rover were each fined €5,000 (£4,300/$5,300) for concealed work.

Laporte is a key figure within rugby, being named as the sport's most influential person by the magazine Rugby World earlier this year.

He previously served as head coach of the French men's national team between 1999 and 2007 and was elected as FFR President in late 2016.

However, the French Ministry of Sports has expressed its belief that he should step down.

"Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, Minister of Sports and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, takes note of the conviction in the first instance of Bernard Laporte, which retains serious breaches and provides, in particular, for a ban on exercising any role related to rugby for two years," it said in a statement reported by French newspaper L'Équipe.

"In law, the Minister stresses that the situation requires respect for the presumption of innocence from which Bernard Laporte must benefit until his final judgment, who must also be able to calmly organise his personal defence.

"In terms of good governance, the Minister considers that this new context prevents Bernard Laporte from being able, as it stands, to pursue his mission under good conditions at the head of a Federation delegated to a public service mission, at a moment as decisive for French rugby as the home stretch before a Rugby World Cup where France will receive nations from around the world. 

"The Minister therefore calls for a new democratic era to allow French rugby as quickly as possible to start again on sufficiently healthy and solid bases, with a governance of the Federation which will have the full confidence of the clubs and will be able to bring people together. 

"It is attached, within a clear ethical and governance framework, to the principle of autonomy of federations and to its respect. 

"It is therefore up to the authorities of the Federation to assume their responsibilities today."

The FFR said it "takes note of the conclusions of the Court of Paris", but that the ruling means he is "not subject to provisional execution, and that he can retain his functions as President of the French Federation of Rugby".

"He remains presumed innocent pending the judgment of the Court of Appeal," a statement reported by L'Équipe read.

It added: "The Federal Office is determined to maintain its commitment to the benefit of French rugby. 

"Our institution needs stability, especially on the eve of an event of fundamental importance for the future of our sport, the 2023 World Cup organised in France."