Rugby: France sticking with same coaching staff for Six Nations

FRANCE are to keep the same coaching staff for the 2004 Six Nations championship but are to review the set-up in April as part of the overhaul planned for the build-up to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

“We are sticking with the same set-up and we will look again at the end of the championship when things could evolve,” said team manager Jo Maso.

Head coach Bernard Laporte, 39, has already been confirmed in his job through to the 2007 World Cup, which France is hosting.

Forwards coach Jacques Brunel, backs coach Bernard Vivies, defence coach David Ellis and fitness trainer Daniel Servais could be given other posts under a new set-up.

Laporte has been told to work more closely with new National Director of Coaching Jean-Claude Skrela and the club coaches.

Skrela, 54, who coached France from 1995 to the 1999 World Cup final, oversees the age group teams. He has replaced Pierre Villepreux who retired in December, having never got on with Laporte.

France’s squad for their opening Six Nations match against Ireland at Stade de France on February 14 will be named on February 4.

France play Italy on Feb 21 and are away to Wales on March 7 and Scotland on March 21 before what could be a championship-decider against World Cup champions England in Paris on March 27.

France finish the 2004 season with North American Tests against the United States on July 3 and Canada on July 10.

Meanwhile, French lock Fabien Pelous is unlikely to make the Six Nations opener against Ireland on February 14 after injuring his left knee in Toulouse’s 37-20 win over Biarritz in the French league on Saturday.

“Luckily I didn’t tear the ligaments but I’ll be out for anything from three to six weeks,” said Pelous, who is in line to regain the captaincy following the retirement of Fabien Galthie.

“I’m going to take the time necessary to recover. We’ll just see how the injury responds before taking a decision on the Ireland game,” he said.

The 30-year-old Toulouse player, capped 86 times, has already said he wants to carry on to the 2007 World Cup.

Pelous captained France 15 times between 1997 and 2002 and led the side against Ireland in Dublin last March when Galthie was out injured.