Paris: France rugby coach Guy Noves has been fired two years after taking the job and replaced by Jacques Brunel.
French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte announced the decision at a news conference on Wednesday.
Brunel coached Italy from 2012-16 and coached the France forwards as an assistant coach from 2001-07. During that period, France won the Six Nations four times — including the Grand Slam in 2004. As a club coach, Brunel guided Perpignan to the French title in 2009.
Last month, Laporte gave Noves a tough challenge to win three of the four November Tests. France lost twice to New Zealand and once to South Africa. It almost became four defeats as Japan was a missed conversion from beating France for the first time in a 23-23 draw.
