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France confirm their next attack coach

By Ian Cameron
Antoine Dupont, left, and Romain Ntamack of France during the Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Seb Daly/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The French Rugby Federation confirmed on Thursday that Patrick Arlettaz would assume the role of attack coach for France following the conclusion of the World Cup.

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Arlettaz, who recently resigned as coach of Perpignan, will be taking over from Laurent Labit.

After the World Cup concludes in October, Labit, along with fellow France coach Karim Ghezal, will be transitioning to Stade Francais. Meanwhile, Arlettaz is set to join the XV de France staff in preparation for the 2024 Six Nations Tournament, starting from January 2024, with a four-year tenure.

A former centre, Arlettaz, brings a preference for a technical and fast-paced style of play.

The 51-year-old had been associated with Perpignan since 2012, initially as an assistant coach and later assuming the position of head coach in 2019. Arlettaz’s leadership guided Perpignan to a successful promotion to the Top 14 in his debut season. Subsequently, he ensured their continued presence in the league, finishing 13th for two consecutive seasons.

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Arlettaz recently steered the team to victory in the relegation/promotion playoffs against Grenoble, who were bidding to make it out of the ProD2.

Arlettaz has also earned one cap for France, which he secured during a match against Romania in 1995.

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Jon 4 hours ago
Why Sam Cane's path to retirement is perfect for him and the All Blacks

> 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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