Toulon loses another coach

Toulon's rugby team is facing another coaching shortage after Maxime Petitjean left to join the French national team's staff for five weeks. This departure adds to the challenges the club already faces following the recent exit of Pierre Mignoni.

Staffing issues in Top 14

The Top 14 league is generally seeing an increase in coaching staff, but Toulon is an exception. Coach Franck Azéma now lacks a dedicated coach for the backs, while he still has three specialists for the forwards: Andrea Beal, Joe Codling, and Anthony Ivaldi.

Player support in the absence

To address the lack of a dedicated back coach, Azéma plans to rely on the experience of his players. Jérémy Sinzelle, a 35-year-old versatile back, will assist in training sessions and will start at center in the upcoming match against Perpignan. His experience is expected to help younger players with communication and strategy.

Kicking strategy affected

Petitjean, who was responsible for the kicking strategy, left behind routines and exercises for the team's kickers. Azéma will oversee their follow-up, though he admits he cannot replace Petitjean in actual kicking sessions. Petitjean will remain available remotely, and performance director Sébastien Bourdin will assist with the tee during matches.

Impact on upcoming matches

Azéma estimates that only three matches will be significantly affected by Petitjean's absence, due to the championship's schedule. The reorganization may not be long-term, as the agreement with the French national team was made before Mignoni's departure. The first test for the team will be Saturday's match against Perpignan, where Baptiste Serin, Tomas Albornoz, and Melvyn Jaminet will be on the field.