Berbizier to quit Italy

Pierre Berbizier will not extend his current contract as coach of Italy, according to the Italian Rugby Federation (FIR).

The FIR have confirmed that Berbizier will return to France after the World Cup in the autumn.

“Out of a personal choice, he said he wanted to go to France at the end of his deal,” said an FIR representative.

As a player, Berbizier won 56 caps for France at scrum-half and captained the side 11 times.

After retiring, he took France to the semi-finals of the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

He went on to coach at Narbonne, and had a stint as as a media pundit, before taking over the Italian national side from the sacked John Kirwan in April 2005.

Berbizier has impressed with Italy, especially this season when they won two RBS 6 Nations game for the first time, including their first victory away from the Stadio Flaminio, against Scotland.