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Struggling Stade appoint ex-Springboks coach Meyer
By Ben Spratt
Former South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has been appointed as the sporting director and head coach of Top 14 strugglers Stade Francais.
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Stade are 12th in the Top 14 in a miserable season, with Meyer now replacing Olivier Azam and Julien Dupuy, who had been in charge since Greg Cooper’s January departure.
The 50-year-old has signed a two-year contract, with the option for a third, as he takes his first job since guiding the Springboks to third place at the 2015 World Cup.
“It’s a great honour for me to join a club with such rich heritage,” Meyer said. “I cannot wait to get involved at Stade Francais.
“The mission is ambitious – I cannot do it alone. I’m very happy to team up with the players and all the figures at the club.”
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Le Stade Français Paris a le plaisir d’annoncer le recrutement de Heyneke Meyer au poste de Directeur Sportif et Entraineur Principal du Club pour les deux saisons à venir, plus une option pour une saison supplémentaire.#SFParis— Stade Français Paris (@SFParisRugby) March 20, 2018
Stade owner Hans-Peter Wild added that the appointment goes some way to show his ambition for the club.
“The arrival of world-renowned coach Heyneke Meyer to lead the Stade Francais project confirms the ambition we have for the club within Top 14 and on the European stage,” he said.
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“I trust Heyneke to build the most professional team and staff to win. He has my fullest support for himself and his plan of action.”
