McCall Takes On Castres Role

French club side Castres Olympique have confirmed that they have taken on Mark McCall, the former Ulster boss, as their new backs coach.

Castres are hoping McCall can enliven the club’s back play as they are currently struggling in the French Top 14 Championship and sit second-from-bottom in the table. The former Ireland centre is replacing Ugo Mola, whose contract was scheduled to run until the end of the season, as the club’s backs coach.

A familiar face for McCall at the club will be his former Ulster and Ireland team-mate Jeremy Davidson who has had a senior coaching role at Castres since last summer.

McCall stepped down as Ulster coach last month after the province’s less-than-impressive start to the season.

As well as McCall’s appointment, Castres have announced Alain Gaillard as the club’s new sporting director. A statement from the club said: “These decisions were taken following rising dissent within the team and a bad start to the campaign.”