BIARRITZ HAVE TAKEN the unusual step of suspending coaches Jack Isaac and Serge Milhas following their Heineken Cup loss to Connacht.

According to FranceTV, the duo have been ‘suspended from professional activity until 6 January’.

The temporary separation from their coaching staff comes four days after Connacht defeated them 22-14 at the Sportsground.

Club president Serge Blanco, who represented Biarritz and France with distinction for over a decade, met with the coaching staff upon their return to the south west of France, with the decision coming less than 24 hours later.

Australian backs coach Isaac has been with Biarritz since 2007. Milhas, the forwards coach, was linked with the Castres head coaching job during the summer.

The club are currently third in Heineken Cup’s pool three and seventh in the French Top 14.

Speaking after the 22-14 defeat to Connacht on Friday, fullback Iain Balshaw told TheScore.ie:

I’m sure our president is not going to be happy. We’re disappointed because we focus on the Heineken Cup and we want to make the knock-out stages.

“I suppose mathematically there is a chance but it is going to be very, very tough. I presume we’ll have to get five points in every match from here on out.”

Manager Laurent Rodriguez and director of the Biarritz training centre Mathieu Rourre will take charge of the Basque side for the return match against the western province, at Parc des Sports Aguilera, on Friday.

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