The news that Laure Sansus and Céline Ferer will become coaches of the highly successful Stade Toulousain club has more than usual significance.
First, it is a fine example of recently retired test players being invited straight back into the game in track-suits.
Second, they actually replace the coaches who had been in place, Rémy Fabre and Pascal Belaubre, who had great success in their tasks, helping ST to become national champions in 2021-22.
But they have to make way for two women. That must surely delight World Rugby, who have been striving to increase the number of female coaches in responsible positions.
Sansus will take care of the backs, Ferer of the forwards.
They will experience what is often held to be a handicap – having played with many of the players they will be in charge of. At least they won’t be finally responsible for selecting sides for next year’s Elite 1 matches. Olivier Marin remains club manager. But it’s hard to imagine them not putting in their pennyworth of opinion.
At the same time ST announce the establishment of a Centre of Excellence. The ten players chosen to join it at the start are:
Océane Bordes, Pauline Bourdon, Valeria Fedrighi, Maëlle Filopon, Gaëlle Hermet, Maelia Lapoujade, Fiona Lecat, Léa Murie, Zélie Reulet and Maïlys Traoré.
They include seven full French caps and one Italian.
We are left wondering whether these initiatives are an attempt to wrest back their No 1 position in Toulouse rugby from the highly ambitious Blagnac down the road.
