XV of France: Edwards towards the exit, Bastide foreseen… The defense of the Blues at the center of Fabien Galthié’s concerns

Even before the “staff” seminar which was held in Montpellier last week, a prelude with a view to the first friendly match against England in Vannes on June 19, the coach resumed his tour of France of the Top 14 clubs. Victorious Six Nations tournament, but during which the Blues conceded a whopping 100 points in the last two matches against Scotland (50-40) and England (48-46), he took the opportunity to meet several technicians in order to strengthen the defensive sector.

What does the future hold for Edwards?

The aura of Shaun Edwards, who has been in charge since the 2020 Tournament, has indeed seriously faded. The future in the French management of the English technician, under contract until June 2028 (like Fabien Galthié or William Servat…) seems particularly uncertain now. Revealed by “The Team”, its absence during the Montpellier seminar only accentuated this trend…

For several months now, Fabien Galthié has taken over responsibility for the general defensive organization. He is now looking for skills to restore consistency to a sector that has been suffering since the November 2025 tour. In accordance with information from “L’Équipe”, the coach met Geoffrey Doumayrou in Montpellier, or even Aurélien Cologni and Christophe Laussucq in Bordeaux.

Fabien Galthié must, however, deal with contractual constraints and current federal budgetary limits. Thus, if Geoffrey Doumayrou’s profile pleases – despite the dispute that arose between the two men during their cohabitation as player and manager at Stade Français -, Mohed Altrad, the president of the MHR, does not intend to release him.

Bastide before Laussucq?

As indicated by “L’Équipe”, and confirmed by “Sud Ouest”, the trail leading to Gérald Bastide (52 years old) emerged in this context. Currently in charge of the defense of the French women’s team, the technician, who recently officiated in Perpignan, knows the federal environment well. He has already been in charge of the defensive sector under the mandate of Guy Novès (2016-2017). Available now, he could reinforce the staff in July during the tests against the New Zealanders (July 4), the Australians (July 11) and the Japanese (July 18). However, this mission should only be one-off.

In view of the 2027 World Cup, the trail leading to Christophe Laussucq remains. Although under contract until 2027 with UBB, the future of the former scrum half is currently uncertain. In charge of the Bordeaux defense since 2023, his face did not appear during the recent wave of extensions within Yannick Bru’s staff. For next season, the manager of the double European champions would have offered him a different mission, geared towards training. He would have declined it.

It is in this context that Fabien Galthié and Christophe Laussucq would have discussed the opportunity of a collaboration. Not for the Nations Cup, but for the 2027 World Cup. Contractual and financial pitfalls persist in this matter as well. But Fabien Galthié would be seduced by the profile of a technician who participated in the conquest of the last two Champions Cups. Partly linked to the fate of Shaun Edwards, the discussions are only embryonic. But they underline the importance of the defensive project within the XV of France.

(1) France will face New Zealand, Australia and Japan in the Southern Hemisphere in July before hosting South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in November.