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Former giants of French rugby, Biarritz have approached Gonzalo Quesada to be their new Director of Rugby. The former Pumas fly half is currently in his final season as Head Coach of Stade Français. He took the Parisian club to Top 14 glory in 2015.
French media outlet L’Equipe is now reporting that the Basque Club is seeking to strengthen its technical and sports sector. It identifies Quesada as tries to seduce the current manager of Stade Français to return the club to previous heights.
Biarritz was relegated from the Top 14 to the Pro D2 in 2014. In the 2013-2014 season the club won just 5 out of 26 matches. The collapse of the club coincided with the rise of others. The old order of France’s south-west gave way to a broader representation with small towns making way for bigger cities.
This season’s Top 14 competition features just Castres and Bayonne as south-western sides with small populations. A decade ago Biarritz joined them as did Agen, Albi, Montauban and Narbonne. Today former Pro D2 sides from much larger cities play in their place. These include Bordeaux, Grenoble, La Rochelle, Lyon, Racing 92 and Toulon.
Presently occupying 6th spot in the Pro D2 Biarritz has a realistic opportunity to push for promotion. On 48 points the club is 10 adrift of leaders Oyonnax but only four of Mont de Marsan. Finishing 5th or higher will guarantee a place in the play-off’s.
A return to the Top 14 would see one of France’s best clubs from the 2000-2010 decade back in the elite. Biarritz won back-to-back Top 14 titles in 2005 and 2006. In the Champions Cup (formerly Heineken Cup) the club were beaten finalists in 2006 and 2010.
The arrival of Quesada would be a significant boost. For the meantime L’Equipe reports it as being a draft. The Basque Club is specifically interesting in making Quesada their Director of Rugby. This would mean that the Argentine would occupy a position at the top of the organizational chart, next to Jack Isaac. The coaches would continue to be David Darricarrère and Frédéric Garcia.
