Rugby: Ex-French captain moves to NZ to coach Thames

Thames Valley rugby is doing its bit to help reverse the exodus of New Zealand rugby talent off-shore by signing former French captain and 98 test veteran Raphael Ibanez. Ibanez will join the Swamp Foxes coaching staff in July just before their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago. For the past few years Ibanez has been a television commentator but has coached in the French Top 14 competition and now wants to see what makes New Zealand rugby tick, says Thames Valley coach Matthew Bartleet. Bartleet tells sports editor Stephen Hewson he was approached by former Thames Valley coach Leon Holden who has coached in England, France and Japan asking if Ibanez could come for work experience.