Richard Cockerill, current assistant coach of the England team, is Montpellier’s priority for the position of forwards manager next season. Discussions have progressed well in recent days.
The Team revealed on January 12 the interest of Montpellier for Richard Cockerill. The English technician (52 years old), passed by Leicester, Toulon and Edinburgh, was part of a short list to take the position of coach of the forwards of the MHR next season within the coaching of Philippe Saint-André. Having passed through Leicester, Toulon and Edinburgh, he has the advantage of speaking French and having already worked in the Top 14, at the RCT, first in January 2017 to support his compatriot Mike Ford, before taking the reins of the supervision a few months later.
This week, discussions have progressed well and a proposal has been sent to Cockerill. According to our information, the former international hooker (27 selections from 1997 to 1999) is now the favorite. Other profiles had been studied recently, including that of Bordeaux Julien Laïrle, who could finally find Christophe Urios, appointed to Clermont this week. Another name, more unexpected, has also appeared in recent days at the MHR, that of … Jono Gibbes, freshly landed from the ASM. But the most advanced and identified track leads to Cockerill.
Will Cockerill give up the World Cup?The English would be interested but he must find an agreement to be released by his federation. Montpellier would obviously like to bring him in this summer and Cockerill would then have to give up the World Cup. Former assistant to Eddie Jones in the English selection, Cockerill nevertheless retained his duties to take care of the scrum, under the orders of new coach Steve Borthwick, appointed on December 19.
Joan Caudullo, who had taken the lead since November after the departure of Olivier Azam from the MHR, will end the season before resuming his position as director of the training center.
The MHR could thus have a strong British accent next season and look like fifteen of the Rose since hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie and third row Sam Simmonds have already officially signed up. And, as revealed by L’Équipe, Exeter’s strong right prop Harry Williams is approaching to make up for the departure of Mohamed Haouas.
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