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The president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte has confirmed, in an interview with Berry Républicain published Sunday, that Fabien Galthié will be the next coach of France.
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The former France scrumhalf will replace Jacques Brunel as the country’s head coach after this year’s Rugby World Cup.
“I’ve named Fabien Galthie as coach,” Laporte told French newspaper Berry Republicain.
Galthié will join the current coaching set-up for the World Cup as a skills coach with an eye to taking over as head once the Japanese tournament comes to a close.
According to reports Laurent Labit will take over the backs while William Servat will become forwards coach should they also join the staff led by Galthié.
And Galthié could yet be joined by Shaun Edwards, with Laporte confirming that they had spoken to English man regarding the defence coach role.
Galthie played 64 times for France and captained the side to a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2002 and also led them at the 2003 World Cup. Laporte is now president of the French Rugby Federation and no doubt the previous relationship between the two men has played a part in the new arrangement.
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Whilst other coaches from around the world have been linked with the position, the FFR recently announced that they would be looking to bring in a French national, based on the desires of the domestic coaches of France’s TOP 14 competition.
Laporte’s grassroots referendum failed to pave the way to a foreigner taking over as their head coach through to the 2023 World Cup. Brunel’s contract expires at the end of the World Cup and amateur clubs had voted against the idea of bringing in a foreign coach in a referendum initiated by Laporte earlier this month.
The Rugby World Cup begins on September 20 in Japan and France begin their campaign a day later against Argentina in Pool C.
