Rugby coaches and instructors - Train like a pro!

TOP COACHES AND SPEAKERS

The professional coaches and experts on our high-level rugby courses represent some of the most experienced and knowledgeable coaches and former players in rugby. The supervisors who accompany the professional coaches all hold state diplomas and are specialists in the field for which they are responsible during the course. For the duration of this high-level rugby course, trainees will be coached on a daily basis by experienced and trained professional coaches and educators. Some workshops will be run and/or regulated by professional rugby players (depending on their availability).

Jacques Delmas

Born in Montpellier, he spent his playing career as a hooker with RC Narbonne. Now a coach, he has coached Biarritz, Grenoble, Stade Français, Perpignan and Toulon, notably in charge of the forwards. He is triple French champion and double European champion. He is now in charge of the forwards at Provence Rugby.

AUBIN HUEBER

Scrum half and originally from Tarbes. He played in Toulon from 1991 to 2000 then coached from 2003 to 2006 alongside Thierry Louvet and from 2008 to 2011 alongside Tana Umaga and Philippe Saint-André. French Champion in 1992 and winner of the 6 Nations Tournament in 1993, he was also semi-finalist in the World Cup in 1995. Double world champion in the under 20s in 2018 and 2019 as forwards coach. He has 23 caps for France. In 2020 he was again called up by the FFR to train the French U18s backs. Today he is the manager of FC Grenoble Rugby.

SÉBASTIEN BRUNO

Born in Nîmes where he started his career as a rugby union player. He then played for France, and continued to play as a hooker for AS Béziers, Sale Sharks and RC Toulon. In 2006, he was part of the Sale Sharks team that won the Premiership title after a memorable game against Leicester. In 2015, he became the forwards coach at LOU. In 2015 he became the forwards coach during the World Cup. In 2020 he was called up again by the FFR to train the French Under 20s forwards.

XAVIER GARBAJOSA

Born in Toulouse, he played as full-back, centre or winger at Stade Toulousain and Aviron Bayonnais. Triple French champion and twice European champion, he won two Grand Slams with France, for whom he played 32 times.

Vice-world champion, after his playing career ended he became the coach at La Rochelle and then Montpellier as well as LOU Rugby with whom he finished third in the championship and best attack in 2023.

MARC DAL MASO

Born in the Landes area, he played as hooker for Agen, Mont de Marsan, Colomiers, Pau and Perpignan. With 33 international caps, he participated in two Grand Slams and was vice-world champion with France in 1999. Assistant coach for Japan, Toulon and CA Brive. Today he is a scrum consultant for US Dax.

PATRICK FURET

Lock forward born in Corsica. He played for Perpignan, Castres and La Section Paloise. A line-out specialist, he has coached at Dax and Castres.

DAVID SMITH

This winger of New Zealand and Samoan origin has played for the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Rugby Club Toulonnais, Castres and Narbonne. He has been French Champion twice and three times European champion.

BRIAN LIEBENBERG

Born in South Africa and naturalised French, he has played as a fly half and centre for Grenoble and the Stade Français. He is a three-time champion of France, has played for France 13 times and won the Grand Slam in 2004.

GEOFFREY PALIS

A native of Albi, where he began his career, he has played full-back or wing for Castres since 2013. A French international with 2 caps for France, he was French champion in 2018.

HIGH PERFORMANCE, A PHILOSOPHY

When I go to bed, I want to feel that I’ve done absolutely the right thing to move on with my life.
(Jonny Wilkinson)

If you’re never under pressure in your life, you’ll never succeed at anything.
(Dan Carter)

The secret of a performance is the result of all those training sessions. Success is something that has to be earned, and for that you have to work hard.
(Mathieu Bastareaud)

I don’t believe in magic, but in hard work.
(Richie Mc Caw)

Training and dedication are the most important things for success.
(Brian O’Driscoll)

The only solution is to work hard. If you do that, you’ll have more successes than failures.
(Antoine Dupont)

WORDS FROM THE PROS

During their week of 100% rugby training at the Académie Internationale de Rugby, trainees will not only be trained by experienced educators and renowned quality coaches, but also advised by current and former professional players. Many of them were kind enough to send you a short video clip, and we’d like to thank them all.