News
Saint Andre sets Sale for fresh pastures
December 04 2008
Sale Sharks have announced that Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre will part company with the club at the end of the current season.
Saint Andre is in his fifth season with Sale, and at the conclusion of this season he will look for a new challenge. Many believe that challenge will be at Toulon, who he has been in talks with this week.
The vacant position left by Saint Andre will be filled by his current right-hand man Kingsley Jones, who will continue to support Saint Andre until the season is finished.
In his time at Edgeley Park Saint Andre took Sale to their first Guinness Premiership title, beating Leicester in the 2006 Grand Final, as well as claiming the European Challenge Cup in 2005.
"I feel very honoured to have been Director of Rugby at such a fantastic club," Saint Andre said.
"The last five years have been very exciting and I am proud of the achievements of the team over this period. Coming top of the Guinness Premiership and then going on to win the Guinness Premiership Final against Leicester in 2006 was the highlight for me, but I am proud of all the teams I have managed over this period and have been privileged to have worked with great players and outstanding coaches and staff.
"I would especially like to thank the fans and supporters of Sale Sharks who have shown great kindness and loyalty to me and my family during my time at the club, and hope that I can repay this support with another trophy at the end of this season.
"I would also like to thank Brian Kennedy for bringing me to Sale Sharks from Bourgoin in 2004. Brian and Ian Blackhurst have been very supportive to me throughout my time at the club and I would like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to manage Sale Sharks. I have enjoyed working with them both very much and also with the other members of the Sale Sharks Board.
"I am totally committed to achieving further success and believe that with the current squad of players and coaching staff, we can win a major trophy this season.
"I am delighted that Kingsley will be taking over rugby operations after I leave. I brought Kingsley to the club in 2004 and like me he is passionate about the club and is determined to achieve success at Sale Sharks. I am certain that the future of the club is in safe hands."
A former French international Saint Andre, who won 69 caps for Les Blues, will hand over full control to Jones at the end of the season.
Jones, speaking after hearing the news, was full of praise for Saint Andre and feels working with the former Bourgoin coach has helped develop his own abilities.
"I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to work with Philippe over the past five seasons," Jones said.
"Philippe is an inspirational coach and I have learned a huge amount from him over this time. For the remainder of this season I will be working with Philippe to try to make this his last season his most successful at the club.
Looking ahead to next season, when he will have full control, Jones has a clear vision as to where he wants to take Sale.
"I have a clear plan on how I will take the club forward when I become Director of Rugby, building on the success of the last five years and also developing further the Sale Sharks Academy to bring through players on which our future success will depend."