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'Is it the biggest club in Europe? Well, it's not... but it's been a great project for me'

By PA
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Richard Cockerill hopes to extend his Edinburgh contract beyond next year. The ex-Leicester boss arrived in the Scottish capital on a two-year deal in 2017 and signed a two-year extension before his first season was finished.

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The former England international has made a major impact, leading Edinburgh to three European quarter-finals with this season’s campaign unfinished, and guiding them to top spot in Guinness PRO14 Conference B before the coronavirus pandemic forced a suspension of play.

In an interview about his future plans on the PRO14 official’s website, the 49-year-old said: “I’m just trying to get everything right for the near future. I’ve never been a coach – or a person – who thought ‘where will I be in three years?’

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“I was an amateur and had a job before I was a professional and I’m a big believer in working hard now and get what’s happening in front of you right and things will appear at the right time. I left Leicester and then had an opportunity at Toulon. I’d have never thought in a world that I’d have been head coach of Toulon and to take them to a French final, where’s that come from? Things happen.

“I’m happy here because we’re moving in the right direction. Is it the biggest club in Europe? Well, it’s not, but I’ve said that since the day I got here. I’ve made no pretence about that whether I’m talking to my own players or trying to recruit players – it’s been a great project for me, I feel like I’m only halfway through it.

“I’m contracted to 2021 and I’d like to see myself here for a couple of years after that, that’ll be six years and then we’ll see. I’ve not craved or looked to go somewhere else.”

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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