Bourgoin give Saint-Andre the boot

BOURGOIN travel to Limerick on Saturday in turmoil after the sacking of rugby director, Philippe Saint-Andre.

The former French captain was removed from his post after admitting he was a candidate to succeed Steve Hansen as Wales coach.

“Philippe Saint-Andre is not Bourgoin’s manager any more,” club chairman Pierre Martinet said yesterday. “To read in the papers that he was in touch with the Welsh Rugby Union was the straw that broke the camel's back. He should have told me about it and he didn't.”

Saint-Andre, aged 36, played 69 times for France between 1990 and 1997, 34 times as captain. Saint-Andre was joint coach with Laurent Seigne. He coached Gloucester for three seasons leading them to the European Cup semi-finals in 2001 before joining Bourgoin. He said on Friday he was a candidate to replace New Zealander Hansen who is stepping down after this year's Six Nations.

Saint-Andre said: “I heard what he (Martinet) said. I have not heard anything like that before. A club and a team are more important than any one individual. Sometimes a coach or a director gets sacked for bad results. That is not the case here. I have always said we have great players, a great team. I have nothing else to add.”