Portugal statement: New boss resigns after a month in charge
The Portugal Rugby Federation have accepted the resignation of head coach Sebastien Bertrank just a matter of weeks after replacing Patrice Lagisquet after the World Cup.
Bertrank has left the role with immediate effect, citing logistical complications while trying to balance a role with the French Ministry of Sport.
This is not an ideal start to life after a successful World Cup for Os Lobos, where they registered their first ever tournament win against Fiji, as well as a draw against Georgia.
A Portugal statement reads: "The Portuguese Rugby Federation and Mr. Sebastien Bertrank, National Rugby Coach, hereby publicly announce that, for strictly professional reasons and at his own request, they have agreed to terminate the contractual relationship between them, with immediate effect.
"The significant increase in the workload and the many requests that the XV National Team has received after the excellent performance in the Rugby World Cup, with the planned holding of several international matches and the corresponding weeks of preparation, would mean that Mr. Bertrank would travel more regularly and stay longer in Portugal, which would lead to the termination of his professional relationship with the French Ministry of Sport, a situation which he seeks to avoid.
"Aware of the fact, the Portuguese Rugby Federation, regretting that it could no longer count on the National Coach, accepted his resignation from the position and wishes Mr. Sebastien Bertrank the greatest personal and professional success."
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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