STADE FRANCAIS, WHO finished the season in a disappointing 11th place in the Top 14, have announced the recruitment of defence coach Paul Gustard as well as eight players, including Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra.
Parra, 33, capped 72 times by France, left Clermont last week after 13 seasons.
Also joining the capital club are hookers Mickael Ivaldi (Lyon) and Lucas Peyreblanques (Biarritz), backrow forwards Mathieu Hirigoyen (Biarritz) and Julien Ory (Toulon), Samoan Giovanni Habel Kuffner (Pau) and Georgian Giorgi Tsutskiridze (Aurillac/Pro D2), and winger Stephane Ahmed (Montauban/Pro D2).
Australian back Sione Tui returns to the squad after being loaned out to Carcassonne in the Pro D2 last season.
Stade’s head coach Gonzalo Quesada will also have Gustard, the former Saracens, England and Harlequins coach who joins from Treviso on board in a defence role.
Quesada will also be able to call on skills coach James Kent, promoted from the Stade academy after previous experience with the Canadian men and women’s teams and the France under-20 team.
Meanwhile, France forward Thibaud Flament has extended his contract with Toulouse by a year through until 2026, the Top 14 club announced Wednesday.
Flament touched down in Toulouse in 2020 after an atypical early career that saw him play in England, Belgium and Argentina.
The 25-year-old, who can play at lock and across the backrow has featured in 17 Top 14 matches this season, starting 11. He has also won seven caps for France.
Flament is the latest Toulouse player, and France international, to extend his contract following fly-half Romain Ntamack (2027), front row forwards Cyril Baille (2027), Julien Marchand (2028) and Peato Mauvaka (2026), flanker Francois Cros (2027) and full-back Thomas Ramos (2027).
Can’t help but wonder what if Ferris was still playing that would be a frightening back row.
True. Ferris would be an upgrade on Stander
Two bulldozers! Only one more sleep lads
Can’t wait to see them 3 get stuck in and cause complete mayhem
CJ and SOB are gona tear the frogs a new arsehole
When u think o mahony and Henderson has to come back into this squad,and Wat they both bring to De table,and with the quality ireland have right across all back positions now,and De quality coming through,irish rugby is definitely, at international level,in a great place..
Shame that knob jockey pape won’t be playing. We won’t get to see Seanie give him a cuddle!
Thought ruddock was on bench not TOD?
There was some confusion yesterday but it is the TOD.
It shows the quality we have in the back row when Ruddock can’t get in the 23.
Or when POM isn’t missed. (Tactically, personally we still miss him)
Disagree with that, I am biased against Munster and despite that I think he is arguably Ireland’s best forward – he is always immense when he plays for Ireland – I don’t think Stander, Henry or O’Donnell can match him
I’m a huge POM fan and really think he adds something extra. But if we lose we won’t be saying “of only Peter had been playing”. His replacement doesn’t fall THAT far short.
Just consider for a moment Henderson playing at 6 along with Stander at 8 and O’Brien at 7.
That would be the dream combination
Just need to find pace on the Inge and power in the second row and then we have a team to be feared
I’d have Henderson at second row. Completely fills the position but the advantage of another back row in the loose.
You’d sort of be missing Heaslip at 8 there, lad
Can’t wait for an ireland win..