Lyon statement: The sacking of Xavier Garbajosa

Ex-French international Xavier Garbajosa has lasted just a single season as head coach at Lyon, the Top 14 club relieving him of his duties following a campaign that ended in an eliminator playoff defeat at home to Bordeaux on June 4.

A statement read: “Lyon Rugby has taken the decision to relieve Xavier Garbajosa of the management of the staff of its first team. This decision should make it possible to guarantee the sports group the necessary serenity in order to promote future performances and to continue the progression of the club according to its ambitions.

“Lyon would like to thank Xavier Garbajosa for his commitment and contribution to last season, finishing in third place, allowing the club to return to the final phase of the Top 14 and beat the attendance record at the Matmut Stadium in Gerland.

“The current staff will be in charge of preparing for next season. Applications for a position of sporting director will be studied but no recruitment will be carried out in haste given the amount of skills already present at the club.”

Garbajosa started his coaching career as an assistant at La Rochelle in 2014, going on to become head coach there before switching to Montpellier in 2019.

It was last week, in the aftermath of the defeat to Bordeaux which denied Lyon a semi-final appearance versus La Rochelle, that the club confirmed the exits of former All Blacks utility Lima Sopoaga, winger Tavite Veredamu (Perpignan) and lock Temo Mayanavanua (Northampton).