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Kiwi boss exits Montpellier

TRANSFER NEWS: Former France coach Philippe Saint-Andre will take over from Vern Cotter as director of rugby at Montpellier, the French Top 14 team announced on Tuesday.

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“Next month, [Philippe] Saint-Andre is going to arrive,” club president Mohed Altrad said in a video clip published by local weekly L’Agglorieuse.

The 52-year-old, who was preferred to former Australia coach Michael Cheika, will take over from Cotter who is returning home to New Zealand after three years in the post.

Saint-Andre, who played 69 times for France principally as a wing, has not held a high level post in rugby since stepping down as France coach after the 2015 World Cup which ended in an ignominious 62-13 thrashing by the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

He has, however, assisted with the Cameroon and Canada national teams while holding down a role as a media pundit.

Prior to his four-year spell as national coach, Saint-Andre was director of rugby at English clubs Gloucester and Sale, whom he led to the Premiership in 2006, and Toulon.

Earlier this month, Montpellier brought in former France scrumhalf Jean-Baptiste Elissalde as a defence coach.

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Montpellier, who have never won the French championship, are currently sixth in the Top 14.

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