Lièvremonts keep it in the family
Dax loose forward Thomas Lièvremont has been named as the French club's coach starting next season. Lièvremont follows in the footsteps of older brother Marc, who gave up his role at Dax to take charge of the French national team.
Dax loose forward Thomas Lièvremont has been named as the French club's coach starting next season. Lièvremont follows in the footsteps of older brother Marc, who gave up his role at Dax to take charge of the French national team.
Many suspected that the young brother would take over the reins of the Landais club directly after the departure of his sibling in October last year, but the role was eventually given to the trio of Jean-Philippe Coyola, Jerôme Daret and Christophe Milhères while Lièvremont called the shots on the field as captain.
Seven months later, with Dax on the verge of relegation, club president Gilbert Ponteins has asked the 34-year-old to take a step higher in the hierarchy.
With a year to run his playing contract, the initial proposal offered to the ex-international was to become the player-coach of the struggling club. Lièvremont however has decided to swap his boots and shorts for a tracksuit and concentrate solely on coaching.
Thomas Li̬vremont arrived at Dax at the beginning of the season from Biarritz Рwith whom he won three French championships Рfollowing in the footsteps of younger brother Matthieu and under the advice of older brother Marc who had brought the team into France's top flight from the ProD2.
Already recognised as a strong leader, Lièvremont will concentrate principally on the Dax forwards and will appoint a specialist backs coach. Patrick Arlettaz currently with Fédérale 1 club Argelès is reportedly the front runner for the past.
As for the current trio of coaches, Christophe Milhères is expected to continue his collaboration with the first team while Jerôme Daret is set be involved with the club's youth programme. Jean-Philippe Coyola is off to join Bayonne.
It remains to be seen then if famous Lièvremont family's newest coach will ply his trade in the Top 14 or if he will be expected to regain promotion like his brother did. Either way, it is a brave decision from the president who hopes the announcement will incited his players to fight for their place amongst France's elite.
“We preferred to be transparent and announce the changes to the players rather than let rumours circulate. I know that they'll fight to the end and do everything possible to show everyone that their place is in the Top 14,” Ponteins told French regional daily Sud-Ouest.