GRENOBLE’S IRISH CONTINGENT continue to prosper in the Top 14, with head coach Bernard Jackman, backs coach Mike Prendergast and centre Chris Farrell all having signed new contracts to keep them in France until 2017.
Scrum-half James Hart is also tied to FCG for another two seasons at least, while prop Denis Coulson made his Top 14 debut against Toulon last weekend and looks likely to extend his current one-year espoirs deal.
Jackman first became involved with the Isère-based club in 2011 as a defensive consultant, before working his way through the ranks to take over as head coach at the start of this season.
My family are really happy here,” says Jackman of his new deal, “I’m really happy here and it’s great to get some stability for the club.”
Having been promoted from the second-tier Pro D2 in 2012, recent seasons have seen Grenoble focus simply on maintaining their Top 14 status, but Jackman’s ambition for progress is matched by the hierarchy within the organisation.
“We don’t want to go into next year like that. That’s the key for me – that they want to be fighting to break into the top six. That’s where I want to be, I want to get Grenoble to be a Champions Cup side.
“If I do that, I think I’ll have done a good job. The president and the board are ambitious, but there’s no magic wand, someone to come in and buy us four or five players. We’ve got to be shrewd in our recruitment and that’s a great challenge.”
This season has been positive for Grenoble so far, with Jackman’s exciting style of attacking play having drawn praise from the French media. Currently seventh in the Top 14, FCG have the third best attack in the league, according to the statistics.
“Every week in the press conferences, they’re asking about Grenoble’s style of play,” outlines Jackman. “The biggest respect you get is guys like Bernard Laporte, Jono Gibbes, Laurent Travers saying how they spend a large part of their week working on their defence to shut us down.”
Grenoble were beaten 61-28 by Toulon on Sunday, and Jackman indicates that he is focused on ensuring that his side grow into a more ruthless, clinical outfit. Still, that the scoring chances are being created so frequently bodes well.
Prendergast’s decision to extend his contract into 2017 has been a boost for Jackman, whose thoughts on rugby match up well with those of the former Young Munster Director of Rugby.
Myself and Mike get on well together, work well together, we’ve got the same philosophy,” explains Jackman.
“It’s good for me to be able to have someone that I trust and someone who thinks about the game the same way I do, and then someone who’s going to challenge me in other ways. He’s enjoying it, growing into it and he’s a great coach, very smart.”
As for Grenoble’s playing contingent, Jackman is pleased that 21-year-old centre Chris Farrell has agreed to two more years in France. The Ulsterman has been impressive in his six starts this season, and offers the ability to play 12, 13 or even on the wing.
The former Ireland U20 international remains outside Joe Schmidt’s senior squad this month, but Grenoble have belief that their 6ft 5ins centre can progress onto the international stage.
“From Chris’ point of view, he’s developing here and is enjoying the lifestyle,” says Jackman.
“It was a real vote of confidence for myself and Mike that he chose to stay, because a lot of players come to France or go to England with a view to getting back [to Ireland] quickly.
I still think he’s a long shot for the World Cup. If he continues to improve for us, and has a solid five months here, I think that he is of a different profile to what Ireland have.”
French-qualified Hart has largely played back-up to the experienced Charl McLeod in the early stages of the season, but the former Clontarf man is still only 23 and remains highly-rated in Grenoble.
Coulson has now racked up three first-team appearances off the bench, two in the Challenge Cup before featuring against Toulon last weekend. The Ireland U20-capped loosehead prop first came to Jackman’s attention during a coaching stint with St. Michael’s College in Dublin.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Denis, I knew he could progress here. He got those opportunities and did well. He’s very dynamic, a real livewire. We felt he deserved a chance against Toulon, and he did very well around the pitch.”
Coulson is likely to be on the Grenoble bench again this weekend for the meeting with Lyon, another chance to stake his claim in the club’s Irish revolution.
