Azéma leaves Toulon and will be Perpignan’s manager
It is a process personally led by President François Rivière and his Director General, Bruno Rolland. Searching for a new manager for weeks to replace Patrick Arlitaz – who wanted to hand over his post after many years with the first team – the duo succeeded. Big hit up. He is currently based in Toulon, where he has formed a duo since the start of the season with Director of Rugby Pierre Mignone, Great Frank He will be USAP Director next season, as I hinted before the team.
He signed a three-year contract and will lead the professional sector. Azéma ticked all the boxes for the job. Originally from the region, he is a former Perpignan player, also a former coach, was named French champion in 2009 (and reached the final in 2010) alongside Jacques Brunel and Bernard Jota, and then continued his career at Clermont for more than ten years. New Brenos in 2017, European Challenger in 2019 and three lost European Cup Finals (2013, 2015, 2017).
Azéma has family roots around Perpignan and familiarity with the current staff since he had head coach David Marty and assistants Perry Freshwater and Guillaume Vilaceca under his command, just like “team manager” Rimas Alvarez Kyriles. Chief Rivière, who wanted above all a man “with a passion for the territory”, could perhaps not have found better with one who also spent his debut in Céret (where his father was a player), Arles-sur-Tech and the rugby league in Saint-Evève.
There is no requirement in the USAP descent status
For personal reasons, Azim considered returning to the region, even if he felt good in Toulon. And he’s made it his favorite profile on the job lately. However, for a long time, the USAP administration did not rule out other candidates. Two men also participated in the race: New Zealander Verne Cotter, former coach of Fiji and former coach of Castries Olympic club Pierre-Henri Broncan, who had very different profiles but arguments in their favor according to the Catalan decision-makers. But not knowledge of the local microcosm like Azéma.
Perpignan will now be able to switch to the sport’s end-of-season goal: maintenance. Currently 13th in the season-ending Top 14, eight points behind Red Lantern Brive and six behind Pau, USAP Racing hosts the 92 Saturday (5 p.m.). A victorious barrage from Mont-de-Marsan last year in the “match of arrival”, the Catalans could live out the same scenario at the beginning of June. However, according to our information, the potential descent would not change anything in the commitment of Franck Azéma, who does not have a clause to that effect. Along with Toulon, chairman Bernard Lemaitre and director of rugby Pierre Mignone will now have to find a successor.
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