PHILIPPE SAINT-ANDRÉ is currently preparing for the World Cup in the knowledge that he will leave his position as France head coach at the conclusion of the tournament.
Saint-André’s tenure so far as been unimpressive, with France failing to consistently deliver strong performances and finishing no higher than fourth in the Six Nations since the former Toulon boss took over.
The FFR announced earlier this month that they had whittled the candidates to succeed Saint-André down to an eight-man shortlist, and it now appears that French rugby’s governing body has made a final decision.
A number of media reports in France this morning, including one in rugby newspaper Midi Olympique, say that current Toulouse head coach Guy Novés has been selected as the next France boss.
Novés is a legend of the French game and turned down the offer of the French job four years ago to continue his love affair with Toulouse. The 61-year-old first joined the club as a player in 1975, eventually taking over as coach and leading them to 10 French league titles and four Heineken Cups.
Toulouse are currently preparing for their Top 14 barrages clash with Oyonnax tomorrow, essentially a quarter-final tie in the French championship.
Bordeaux coach and former France hooker Raphaël Ibañez had been the early front-runner to succeed Saint-André and made the final eight-man shortlist, but once Novés had indicated his interest it is reported that FFR president Pierre Camou knew he had his man.
Intriguingly, ex-England boss Clive Woodward was also part of the final reckoning alongside Ibañez and Novés, and it will be fascinating to see if he follows his application with similar actions in relation to any other jobs in the near future.
Midi Olympique are reporting that Novés will be joined in the next France coaching ticket by current forwards coach Yannick Bru and backs specialist Jean-Frédéric Dubois, who is with Stade Français at present.
Both men previously played under Novés at Toulouse and are well known to be extremely close to the wily head coach.
A new era beckons for les Bleus with the true godfather of the French game set to take over from Saint-André, but the current boss has one final adventure before handing over the reins.
