Noves favourite for France job

Editor

Guy Novès is being tipped to take over as the next France coach having overtaken Raphaël Ibanez as favourite for the job.

Ibanez seemed to be nailed on for the role earlier this season, but Novès has since emerged as a serious candidate, and looks set to be offered the position he turned down four years ago.

The most successful coach in the history of club rugby, Novès has led Toulouse to nine French titles and a further four European Cups in two decades at the club.

However it is being reported by the Midi Olympique that he could replace Philippe Saint-André in charge of France after the World Cup.

Novès is believed to be the front runner for the seven-man committee set up to choose the next coach, with only Jean-Claude Skrela and Didier Retière not entirely convinced.

If he does get the nod, it is expected that Yannick Bru, his former assistant, will carry on looking after the forwards, depriving Toulouse of the man who was being lined up as Novès' successor.

Fabien Pelous is another name that has been mooted for the Toulouse job, with René Bouscatel keen to know as soon as possible if he will have to find a replacement for Novès.

Candidates for the French job were asked to send letters outlining their projects and their plans for a coaching staff, and while Novès has refused to reveal whether he applied, he now seems favourite for the position.