Fabien Galthié is poised to join the France coaching staff for this year's World Cup, before assuming the role of head coach immediately after the tournament.
L'Equipe claim the former Toulon head coach has agreed a deal to work alongside, and then succeed, current head coach Jacques Brunel. Galthié will then remain in charge through the entire World Cup cycle to 2023.
The 50-year old left his position at Toulon at the end of last season, and is known to have had his eye on the France job for some time. Galthié is a former captain of Les Bleus, winning 64-caps for his country from scrum-half.
French rugby president Bernard Laporte claimed last week that Joe Schmidt was his first choice to take over from Brunel before a survey of the clubs decided against the appointment of a first ever foreign coach.
🏉🚨 Exclu RMC Sport
Laporte : "Mon choix numéro un pour l'équipe de France était Joe Schmidt" ➡ https://t.co/XP5p506Qgx pic.twitter.com/qZtGx0hH02— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) April 12, 2019
Brunel's contract was due to run until 2020, but Laporte has decided upon naming a new head coach prior to September's World Cup in Japan, and installing his choice straight afterwards.
Ronan O'Gara was mooted as being part of the coaching ticket for the tournament, but the former Ireland and Munster out-half had cooled on the idea despite some initial interest.
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