Joe Rokocoko to replace French legend at Racing 92 after NRL raid

Former All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko is set for a promotion within the Racing 92 coaching staff next season to take over as attack coach from former France fly-half Frédéric Michalak.

Michalak, who has spent three years at the Paris-La Défense Arena initially arriving to work under former England boss Stuart Lancaster, is leaving the Ciel et Blanc this summer to move to the Australian NRL outfit Cronulla Sharks.

Racing, who are eighth in the Top 14 this season, aren’t expected to look outside the club for a replacement and will instead appoint Rokocoko, 42, who, as a player, was dubbed “the rocket man.”

One of the most electrifying wingers in the modern era, he scored 46 tries from 68 All Blacks appearances before ending his test career when he moved to Bayonne in 2012.

Rokocoko, who was born in Nadi, Fiji, settled in Weymouth, South Auckland when he was five, is a technical coach in the French capital working on the individual technique of Racing stars.

He finished his career with Racing in 2019, four years after arriving from the Basque outfit, after they were relegated from the Top 14 to link up with a strong contingent of Kiwis at the club.

Rokocoko, who is a popular figure in the Racing dressing room, joined his All Blacks team mate Dan Carter, former All Blacks Chris Masoe, Casey Laulala, and hulking Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna.

He made an immediate impact at the Hauts-de-Seine club, helping them win the French championship in June 2016, and it remains the sixth and last time that the big spending Racing have been Top 14 champions.

According to the French media, Racing’s sporting boss Patrice Collazo is set to appoint him as one of his key lieutenants for next season before they return to Top 14 action when they entertain Castres in two weeks’ time.