Ex-England international Nick Easter linked with cross-channel move

Chinnor boss Nick Easter has emerged as a potential target for Pro D2 high-flyers Brive, who are seeking to appoint a new head coach alongside Director of Sport Gregory Patat.

Brive have won all five games in Pro D2 and trail early-season pace-setters Oyonnax by two bonus points in the long race for promotion to the Top 14.

An English coach has been on their wanted list, and they spoke to Richard Cockerill earlier in the year after failing to lure Joe El-Abd away from his role as one of Steve Borthwick’s right-hand men.

Former Harlequins and England No.8 Easter, 48, started coaching in June 2016, a month after his playing career ended, and has worked as a defence, forwards and breakdown coach at Quins, the Sharks, Newcastle Falcons, Worcester Warriors and USA.

He has been the Director of Rugby at Chinnor since December 2022 and has done a remarkable job with the Oxfordshire minnows, which has brought him to the attention of Gallagher PREM sides and now Brive in Pro D2.

Last season, on a shoestring budget, he defied the odds and guided Chinnor to the Champ play-off quarter-finals, where they were defeated 35-29 by eventual champions Worcester Warriors.

They started this campaign with a 43-26 defeat to Ealing Trailfinders before bouncing back and beating Bedford Blues 52-33 at the weekend. But could his days with the Thame-based outfit be numbered?

Brive owner Ian Osborne wants to add to his coaching staff to build on their good start, and it would see Easter become head coach, with Patat remaining as Director of Sport at the Stade Amédée-Domenech.

Sources in France have indicated that Brive would be willing to pay a fee to release Easter from his contract and that he is open to relocating with his family to the city, which was the regional capital of the Resistance during World War II.