The seamless defeat on Sunday night against La Rochelle (39-6) was too much for Toulon coach Patrice Collazo. On an ejection seat for several weeks, he is no longer the technician of the triple European champion. The Var club announced it on Tuesday in a press release. “RC Toulon and Patrice Collazo have decided, by mutual agreement, to put an end to their collaboration. A week earlier, its president Bernard Lemaître had, however, announced in the newspaper Sud Ouest that his trainer was not in danger …
After eight days of Top 14, Toulon occupies only 13th place in the jump-off (2 wins, a draw and 5 defeats) with 2 units ahead of the red lantern Perpignan. Patrice Collazo (47) had been the coach of the RCT since 2018. After finishing 8th in 2019, then 4th before the end of the championships due to the health crisis in 2020, Toulon had finished 9th in the Top 14 in June 2021. L ‘ex-pillar, 47, finally left the club with a balance sheet just in balance, all competitions: 46 wins, 42 losses and 3 draws.
The leaders undoubtedly wanted to cause a psychological shock when looming, this Saturday, a very important Toulon-Biarritz (12th one point ahead of the Var) at the bottom of the table at the Mayol stadium. For the reception of the Basques, Toulon indicated that James Coughlan, the Irish defense coach, will take over. According to our information, corroborated by sources familiar with the matter, Franck Azéma, the former Clermont coach with whom he was champion of France in 2017, is the most credible track to succeed Collazo. Other profiles are also studied, but Azema clearly holds the rope. The formalization of his arrival is likely to intervene fairly quickly.
Aged 50, he was still under contract for two years at ASM, but he preferred to close his chapter in Auvergne, eleven years long, started as assistant to Vern Cotter, continued as head coach from 2014. He has imagined bouncing back in Montpellier, but the track was unsuccessful. It was also announced on the side of the new Fijian franchise, the Fidjian Drua, who joined Super Rugby this season. Previously coach of Usap (2006-2010), the consultant for Canal + intervenes, since this summer, occasionally with the Catalan Dragons (Rugby à XIII).
