Former Munster and PAO No.8 James Coghlan has been linked with a return to the game in France as the new sporting director of Biarritz, the Pro D2 side.
Olympique are a very different club these days from their top 14 title-winning heyday in the mid-2000s, an era marked by two appearances in the European Heineken Cup final.
The team currently sits in 14th place in the Second Division table and is not yet mathematically safe from relegation with two matches remaining in the 2023/24 season.
However, change is afoot following the recent departure of owner Jean-Baptiste Aldige, and L'Equipe have reported that Coughlan, who took a year off from coaching after helping Toulon to glory in the EPCR Challenge Cup last season in Dublin, could take over. On the team.
If he does so, he will become the second Irishman to coach Biarritz in the past decade, with former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan taking charge of the team in the 2014/15 season after the team's relegation to the top flight. He was out just months into the following season.
“We were in terrible situations that men were not used to.”
From relegation fears to chasing trophies with Iben and his teammates, James Coughlan spoke to/@heagneyl???? In his first year he helped Toulon on the roller coaster.#SpringBox #LOUvRCT #ICYMIhttps://t.co/DzMzwftCPw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 31, 2022
Nine years later, Coughlan is about to take over. “The revolution is taking shape at Olympique Biarritz,” began the L’Equipe report. “With the departure of Jean-Baptiste Aldegue confirmed, the buyers, led by Sean Hegarty, Philip van der Merwe and Mark Paget, are busy preparing for next season.
“The fourteenth team in Pro D2 is looking for a new sporting director. According to our information, they have turned their attention to Irishman James Coughlan (43 years old). Discussions are going well between the two parties.
“The former Munster and Pau rower has had many experiences in the French coaching staff, first as coach of Provence Rugby's forwards and then as head of defense for Brive and then Toulon.
“According to our information, he could be accompanied by Boris Bouhraoua (39 years old), who played for Stade de France but also for the Algerian national team. His profile as a coach pleases Biarritz a lot.”
