Ex-skipper Raphael Ibanez to take manager role of France after World Cup

Former France captain Raphael Ibanez will take over as the manager of the national side following the completion of the World Cup scheduled in Japan later this year.

Ibanez has played 98 Tests for France that includes 18 in the World Cup and 38 in the Five / Six Nations. He won successive Grand Slams with France in 1997 and 1998 and led them to the World Cup Final in 1999 before announcing his first retirement post 2003 World Cup.

However, he was forced to comeback from the retirement by the then French coach and current president of the French Rugby Federation Bernard Laporte to come out of the retirement and decided to finally quit international rugby in 2008. He will play the role connecting both the national side and clubs.

Meanwhile, another French captain Fabien Galthie is among the favourites to replace Jacques Brunel as head coach after the World Cup.

Galthie has already been offered an assistant coach role under Brunel in the build up to the showpiece event and is likely to be offered a head coach contract until 2023 World Cup which will be held in France.