After the departure of Xavier Garbajosa on June 12, the Lyon club announced on Tuesday the arrival of Fabien Gengenbacher as sports director from July 13. After his time at Lyon, he joined Grenoble where he was captain and where he remained for eleven years, until the end of his career (161 matches, 88 points). “Fabien’s profile sticks to the DNA of LOU. His return to the club should allow us to continue our progress in a climate that will have to combine efficiency, high standards, cohesion and serenity, ”said President Yann Roubert in a press release.
The Rhone club specifies that the former full-back, passed by the LOU during the 2005-2006 season, will be assisted by Julien Puricelli (touch), Coenie Basson (defense) and Didier Bès (scrum), who retain their roles within the staff, with the South African Alan Basson Zondagh who will be in charge of three-quarters.
Aged 39, Gengenbacher had been in post for two years at FC Grenoble (2nd in Pro D2), a team with which he failed in the elite match against Perpignan, 13th in the Top 14. Former LOU Rugby player in ProD2 (2005-2006, 20 matches, 121 points), this Savoyard of origin mainly evolved in the clubs of the Rhône-Alpes region, in Ugine-Albertville then in professionals in Bourgoin-Jallieu in Top 16 (2003-2005) .
