Stade Français Dismisses Coach Karim Ghezal Amid Poor Season Start
In a significant shake-up at Stade Français, head coach Karim Ghezal has been dismissed following a disappointing start to the Top 14 season. The announcement was made by Laurent Labit, the club's director of rugby, to the players on Monday morning, according to reports from L'Équipe and other sources. Ghezal, who was appointed after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, struggled to turn around the team's fortunes, which have seen them languishing near the bottom of the league standings.
Stade Français has managed to secure only one victory in their first four matches, leaving them in penultimate place with just five points. The team's recent performance included a heavy loss to Pau (30-16) and an average of 30 points conceded per match, raising concerns about their defensive capabilities. This marks a stark contrast to last season, where the team reached the semi-finals, narrowly missing out on a final berth against Union Bordeaux-Bègles.
As the team prepares to host Montpellier next Saturday, they will be looking to rebound from this setback and improve their standings. The upcoming matches are crucial for the club to regain momentum and confidence, especially with a challenging trip to Lyon on the horizon.
