Sir Clive Woodward is on an eight-man shortlist to replace Philippe Saint-André as France’s head coach, according to reports in the French press.
The French newspaper L’Equipe reports that England’s World Cup winning coach in 2003 has expressed his interest to the French Rugby Federation in taking over Les Bleus after the Rugby World Cup later this year.
According to sources close to the French Rugby Federation, Woodward has a “burning desire” to return to Test match coaching and he is believed to have been interviewed for the head coaching job last month.
“Clive Woodward met with FFR officials and explained to them just how much he wants to come back to full-time coaching,” a source close to France’s set-up said.
“He told them he has a burning desire to come back and show what he can do, and he asked to be considered seriously for the role.
“It seems that Clive initiated contact, but as a result the decision-makers wasted little time in organising a meeting.”
Guy Novès, the head coach of Toulouse, remains the favourite while Raphaël Ibanez, the former national captain and Wasps and Saracens hooker, is also in the frame but Woodward is the only candidate mentioned in the report with experience as an international head coach.
Woodward was in charge of England between 1997 and 2004 – clinching the World Cup in Australia in 2003 – before overseeing an ill-fated British and Irish Lions tour in 2005. A year later he joined the British Olympic Association, initially as the director of elite performance, before departing shortly after London 2012 – Great Britain’s most successful Olympics for 108 years.
France have won just 15 of their 37 Tests under Saint-André, who has long been criticised for his failure to produce results as well as the kind of attacking rugby for which Les Bleus are traditionally known despite the European dominance of the Top 14 sides.
Woodward coached England from 1997 to 2004, guiding Martin Johnson and the team to the 2003 World Cup title in Australia.
After leaving his post in 2004 he led the Lions Test-whitewash tour to New Zealand in 2005.
Woodward then joined the British Olympic Association, remaining with the organisation until shortly after the London 2012 Olympics.
