“It is important for me to return and be present with my family. It’s not an easy choice, it has nothing to do with the club, (president) Bernard Lemaître or (coach) Pierre Mignoni. I thank them for their understanding, it’s good to have their support,” explained Azéma.
The former coach of three-quarters of the USAP will therefore find the Catalan club, where he signed for three years, replacing Patrick Arlettaz.
“I want to take advantage of these remaining months to give the best of myself and have fun with the team,” he said. “It’s part of life, you can’t always predict everything, I’ve been thinking about it for some time and it was important for me to make this decision”.
For his part, Pierre Mignoni wanted to salute the one he joined at the start of the season in the Var: “I love Franck too much not to respect his choice. We never pretended, it’s difficult but that’s life.
“We didn’t know each other a lot before but it’s a great meeting. We still have things to write, it should give us even more collective strength to get something, ”he added.
Toulon, current 4th in the Top 14, is still in the running for the final stages, as well as in the Challenge Cup, of which it will play the semi-finals on April 30 against the Italians of Treviso.
“I took a little blow on the head. I understand and I always favor human choices, ”said RC Toulon president Bernard Lemaitre. “I am now focused on the end of the season and I think we will have time to organize ourselves and make comments later”.
The Var club travels to Castres on Saturday (5:00 p.m.) on behalf of the 23rd day of Top 14.
In a press release, Usap, through its president François Rivière, welcomed the return of Franck Azéma, 52, who was assistant coach of the Catalan club when they won the title of champion of France in 2009.
“Since his departure (from Perpignan, editor’s note), he has had an admirable career with many successes. On the strength of these experiences and enriched with new skills, he will come to continue the work started by the club and Patrick Arlettaz, ”he says.
Perpignan currently occupies the 13th and penultimate place in the championship, that of play-off, four days from the end.
