1
Sacked Guy Noves awarded hefty sum in FFR firing case
By Chris Jones
Sacked French rugby coach Guy Noves has been handed €1m by an industrial tribunal who ruled he was unfairly dismissed by the French Rugby Federation.
However, the award is much lower than the former Toulouse coach wanted and both parties have the right to appeal. Noves was asking for 2.88 euros as compensation for the decision to strip him of the national coaching role which he lost after six consecutive defeats between June and November 2017, a string of results that federation chief Bernard Laporte deemed unacceptable.
The French rugby federation was ordered by an industrial tribunal on to pay €1 million in the first case of its kind involving the national coach of the French team. The tribunal heard that Noves had become the first France coach ever to be sacked, in December 2017, after seven wins from 22 matches alongside 14 defeats and a humiliating home draw with 2019 World Cup hosts Japan.
The FFR alleged Noves was guilty of serious misconduct, but a Toulouse labour tribunal decided otherwise. Noves was originally installed as head coach with a contract that ran until the end of the World Cup in Japan. However, he was replaced by Jacques Brunel who has faced severe criticism for his own record which includes a home loss to Fiji last November. France are in the same World Cup pool as England, Argentina, Tonga and the USA.
Noves believed the Federation’s failure to comply with employment procedures by the FFR, who initiated his dismissal without any prior interview, allowed him to ask for significant damages which revolved around salary he claimed would be owed to him under his contract.
"We have been waiting for this result for 15 months. We got it, I'm satisfied. My honor is clean;”, said Novès to reporters. “There is no serious fault on my part and it is the most important. It's satisfying. Is it behind me? I do not know because it's hard to suffer this kind of accusation.
"I did not deserve that. It's a relief, but I'll never forget. Personally, I am satisfied with the result and I will not appeal. "
France are set to appoint a new coach to replace Brunel before they leave to take part in the World Cup with the new man taking over after the tournament.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Nemani Nadolo: 'Now I cut grass, do gardens, cut hedges for a living'
3
Exclusive RugbyPass interview: Toulon co-captain David Ribbans
4
'One of the deadliest wingers in rugby' has decided his future
5
Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
Go to comments