Saint-André confirmed as next France coach

Philippe Saint-André has been confirmed as France's next coach. He will take over from Marc Lièvremont after Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand.

Former France captain Saint-André will leave his post as director of rugby at Toulon to take over Les Bleus on 1 December.

Lièvremont announced last year that he would not seek to extend his contract after RWC 2011.

Pierre Camou, President of Fédération Française de Rugby, initially moved for Stade Toulouse coach Guy Novès. After his refusal, Saint-André saw off competition from Montpellier's Fabien Galthié.

It is not clear who will be Saint-André's assistants, but Stade Toulouse forwards coach Yannick Bru and Patrice Lagisquet, the Biarritz director of rugby, are possible candidates.

Saint-André is nicknamed 'Le Goret' (The Piglet) and played as a wing for Clermont-Auvergne and Gloucester - he also played 69 times for France - before moving into coaching with Gloucester, Bourgoin and Sale.