Montpellier issue blunt statement about Saint-Andre exit speculation

Last year’s Top 14 champions Montpellier have issued a blunt statement regarding speculation that Philippe Saint-Andre is to leave the club in the coming weeks. The ex-France international has just come off the back of a difficult season where his team’s title defence ended in a desultory 11th-place finish.

With ex-England assistant Richard Cockerill set to join a revamped staff for the 2023/24 season, Saint-Andre was set to move upstairs. However, it was since claimed that the France 2015 Rugby World Cup boss would instead be leaving the club and could potentially link up with Provence in the Pro D2.

Montpellier, though, have insisted this isn’t the case. A statement read: “Montpellier Herault Rugby strongly denies the information published in the press on Wednesday, June 7, about the departure of Philippe Saint-Andre. The latter, committed until 2025, will continue the exercise of his missions within the club.”

A defeat last month to relegated Brive seriously hampered Montpellier’s hopes of reaching the play-offs and the loss sparked a dressing room altercation between Saint-Andre and French duo Mohamed Haouas and Paul Willemse which resulted in an intervention by club president Mohed Altrad.

“That day, I had to intervene so that these people did not come to blows,” explained Altrad last week. “This is not my role, but this kind of thing is anticipated. The abscess should have been punctured before.”

The owner also explained what Saint-Andre’s role would be going forward after relinquishing the day-to-day coaching of the team. “He will do what I don’t have time to do in the club, marketing, partner relations, representation in the LNR…

“It will also develop the connection between the training centre and the professional team. Philippe will also have a weekly meeting with the leading players to talk to them about the MHR institution, the history of the jersey… He will send this message: no one is above the institution.”