Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Stade Francais sack Karim Ghezal just 4 games into Top 14 season

Stade Francais' French coach Karim Ghezal gestures prior to the French Top14 rugby union match between Section Paloise (Pau) and Stade Francais Paris at the Stade du Hameau in Pau, south of France, on September 28, 2024. (Photo by Gaizka IROZ / AFP) (Photo by GAIZKA IROZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Karim Ghezal has left his role as head coach of Stade Francais, less than 48 hours after last season’s Top 14 semi-finalists slipped to a third defeat in four matches.

ADVERTISEMENT

A terse club statement confirmed reports that Ghezal’s 11-month reign was over: “By mutual agreement, the collaboration between Stade Francais Paris and Mr Karim Ghezal has come to an end,” it read. “Stade Francais Paris would like to thank Karim Ghezal for the work he has done and for reaching the semi-finals last season.”

Saturday’s 30-16 defeat at Pau – following an opening-day 46-26 loss at Bordeaux and a 10-14 reversal at home to Toulon – saw Stade slip to 13th. Their only success has been a 34-31 home win against promoted Vannes.

Video Spacer

Finale TOP 14 – Le drop incroyable de 50 mètres de Cheslin Kolbe

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:38
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:38
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Finale TOP 14 – Le drop incroyable de 50 mètres de Cheslin Kolbe

    Ghezal’s term at Stade Jean Bouin was as turbulent as it was short. He quit his role with the France squad to become head coach, alongside director of rugby Laurent Labit, shortly after their exit from Rugby World Cup 2023.

    Tensions soon followed. Reports of a rift with players surfaced after a 30-6 defeat, also at Pau, in November 2023. In January, following further internal bust-ups, including a public pitchside row with the now-departed Joris Segonds at Clermont’s Stade Marcel Michelin, a player delegation confronted Labit.

    The sporting director temporarily soothed the situation. But, despite reaching the Top 14 play-off semi-finals internal tensions had not dissipated, and relations – crucially – between the dream ticket Labit-Ghezal coaching duo had soured.

    Ghezal was forced to give up a number of responsibilities, including matchday selections, during a summer coaching reorganisation that also saw Labit return to day-to-day coaching, working with attack coach Morgan Parra.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    It was sold as a positive. Before the season kicked off, Labit told L’Equipe: “Karim puts to music what I have decided about the game or strategy.”

    It didn’t work. Saturday’s loss left Labit little choice but to part company with the coach whose arrival he had touted positively. But Ghezal’s departure raises new political staffing questions at Stade Francais that will need to be answered sooner rather than later.

    Defence coach Paul Gustard is expected to step into the breach left by Ghezal’s departure in the short-term at least, according to Rugbyrama. He is popular with the players and had previously briefly undertaken head coach responsibilities, guiding the club in the interregnum between the departure of Gonzalo Quesada at the end of the 2023/24 season and the arrival of Labit and Ghezal after the World Cup.

    Related

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Wolfhounds vs Gwalia | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

    Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

    O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 2 | Ireland Week

    New Zealand vs Australia: Behind the Scenes with the Black Ferns Sevens Team | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E06

    O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

    Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

    The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

    Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

    Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    LONG READ
    LONG READ Brendan Fanning: 'It doesn’t matter how good or bad Wales are, what can Ireland do for themselves?' Brendan Fanning: 'It doesn’t matter how good or bad Wales are, what can Ireland do for themselves?'
    Search