Smith extends France coaching stint

Wed, Apr 22, 2020, 11:38 PM
AFP
by AFP
Conrad Smith will be staying with Pau. Photo: Getty Images
Conrad Smith will be staying with Pau. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand's two-time Rugby World Cup winner Conrad Smith has extended his contract as Pau's High Performance Manager to 2022, the French club's president Bernard Pontneau said on Wednesday.

Smith, 38, who retired in 2018 after a trophy-laden career with the All Blacks, was named the Top 14 outfit's defence coach after hanging up his boots before being promoted to his current role last summer.

On the other hand, Smith's fellow former All Blacks fly-half Colin Slade and full-back Ben Smith have returned to New Zealand with their contracts in the south of France up in June.

Fiji captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu has also left the side in 12th place in the table.

The Top 14 has been suspended since March 13 due to the coronavirus pandemic with nine rounds of the regular season to play.

Earlier on Wednesday, the league announced they are studying holding semi-finals at the end of August before a final at the Stade de France, just before the scheduled start of the 2020-21 season.

 

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