France XV: Montpellier open to loaning a coach to Fabien Galthié

Montpellier's defense coach, Geoffrey Doumayrou, has emerged as a potential candidate to join the coaching staff of the French national rugby team, known as XV de France. Fabien Galthié, the head coach, is reportedly interested in Doumayrou, who has become a key figure in Montpellier's coaching setup this season.

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Fabien says that his assistants must be in the clubs because there, at least, they coach all year, and not just ten matches a year.

Galthié is seeking to fill the defense coaching position left vacant by Shaun Edwards, who has been with the team since 2020. For the upcoming Southern Hemisphere tour in July, Gérald Bastide, who coaches the women's XV de France defense, will serve as a temporary solution for one month. However, Galthié is exploring longer-term options, with Doumayrou being a prominent name under consideration.

Montpellier, a semi-finalist in the Top 14, has not outright rejected the idea of Doumayrou assisting the national team. However, the club has outlined specific conditions. Club director Bernard Laporte clarified that Montpellier is not looking to permanently lose Doumayrou but is open to him undertaking temporary assignments, or "pigiste" roles, with the XV de France.

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Fabien (Galthié) doesn't want to steal Geoffrey from us; he wants us to lend him. It's not the same thing. Fabien himself says that coaches must be in the clubs because there, at least, they coach all year, not just ten matches a year.

Laporte emphasized Galthié's own philosophy, which suggests coaches should remain actively involved with their clubs year-round, rather than only coaching during national team camps. "Fabien (Galthié) doesn't want to steal Geoffrey from us; he wants us to lend him," Laporte stated. "It's not the same thing. Fabien himself says that coaches must be in the clubs because there, at least, they coach all year, not just ten matches a year." The possibility of such a loan arrangement is currently pending further discussions between Montpellier, the French Rugby Federation (FFR), and the club's president, Mohed Altrad.

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Why not, We talked about it with the president (Mohed Altrad) because he is the one who decides. As far as I understand, it's a bit on standby for now on the FFR side. But if it were to happen, we would sit down with the president and Joan (Caudullo, the manager) to discuss it...