Philippe Saint-Andre has beaten Michael Cheika to the top job at Montpellier

Montpellier president Mohed Altrad has confirmed that former France boss Philippe Saint-Andre will arrive at the Top 14 club next month as director of rugby.
Saint-Andre has been away from the professional game since relinquishing the reins as French boss after the 2015 World Cup, busying himself instead with ventures such as setting up PSA Academies which coaches rugby to youngsters in France, England and Ireland.
It had been speculated for some weeks that Saint-Andre was the prime candidate to succeed Vern Cotter after the widely reported post-World Cup link with Australia’s Michael Cheika went cold.
Altrad has now revealed his decision has been made. “We changed coaches, (Xavier) Garbajosa arrived. (Jean-Baptiste) Elissalde has arrived (as an assistant).
“Next month, Saint-Andre will arrive. And we will continue to progress,” explains the president in an interview with L'Agglorieuse, a satirical weekly in Herault.
Saint-Andre is well-versed in the director of rugby position following similar responsibilities at Gloucester and Sale in England - he guided the latter to Premiership title glory in 2006 - and then at Toulon where he laid the groundwork that Bernard Laporte came in and built on to great success.
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That’s why we threw that game against you in the pool stages by playing Libbok at 10 who couldn’t split the uprights for love or money.
Go to commentsSo sad and sorry to hear yesterday about Alex Wyllies passing. When I first went to Lancaster Park , Grizz was the captain and no8. A fearsome legend. His time coaching Canterbury 1982-86 , was one of the highlights of my life. 82-85 , was Canterbury’s record equalling Ranfurly Shield era, culminating in the “Match of the Century” , when we lost it to Auckland . I was at that game and the rest, it was one for the ages. Inspired by Grizz Canterbury nearly won it, after being 24-0 down. In 1986 Canterbury thrashed the touring Wallabies, who went on to beat the All Blacks 2-1 in that test series.Alex Wyllie inspired 2 of the players who were huge parts of his Shield team, to become great coaches in there own right. They are of course , Wayne Smith and Robbie Deans . Canterbury /Crusaders and international legends. Robbie Deans was the goal kicking hero on many occasion in that era, none more than when he kicked the equalizing penalty against Counties in the first up Shield challenge, a game I was at. As with the rest of those games. Wayne Smith scored the try to claim the Shield in Wellington a week earlier It was a pleasure to meet Grizz on a number of occasions. Rest in peace Grizz. A red and black legend , first class. He was also an All Black and one of our greatest AB coaches.
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