FORMER FRANCE COACH Philippe Saint-Andre will help train Cameroon on a voluntary basis in the African Cup in May.
Saint-Andre stepped down as France coach in 2015 after a four-year period in which Les Bleus never finished higher than fourth in the Six Nations, failed to beat Wales, Ireland, New Zealand or South Africa and were humiliated at the World Cup.
“I’m graciously lending a hand for this Africa Cup,” Saint-Andre told AFP, after a request from a Cameroonian friend.
Cameroon face Nigeria in Yaounde on 6 May and Algeria a week later in what is the third level of the continental competition.
“There are between 15 and 18 Cameroonians who play in France between the Top 14, the Pro D2, Federale 1, 2 and even 3,” the latter the equivalent to third, fourth and fifth divisions.
“So we’ll try to pull together a team for a nice challenge: to play in front of their home crowd in their capital. Furthermore it’s the federation’s 20th anniversary,” said the former France captain who played at Clermont and Gloucester before embarking on his coaching career.
“The goal will be to take 10 or 12 players, the best would be 15 or so players who ply their trade in France” to add to a similar number who play in Cameroon, said Saint-Andre who will now tour clubs in a bid to convince them to free up their African players for two weeks.
He added: “There are some good players: Agen prop Arsene Nnomo, Olivier Missoup (Racing 92 flanker), Lyon’s Christian Njewel, without talking about Robins Tchale-Watchou (Montpellier).
“There are more forwards than backs but there are lots of good players in France.”
The42 Rugby Show / SoundCloud
Subscribe to The42 Rugby Show podcast here:
