"It's done. It will be extended until 2027. The constitution of his staff will be defined by and with him," assured Simon in an interview with AFP.

"For reasons of clarity, coherence, simplicity, evidence, tranquility... it was important to extend it. It was a question that agitates the landernau. When you are lucky enough to have evidence, you have to know how to seize it”, added the N.2 of the French Rugby Federation.

Initially linked to the FFR until 2023, Galthié will therefore extend his contract for four years after having led the XV of France to its first Grand Slam since 2010.

Arrived on the bench of the Blues after the World Cup-2019 in Japan, finished in the quarter-finals, the former scrum half, winner of the Six Nations Tournament three times (1997, 1998 and 2002), guided this year the France team towards a tenth Grand Slam, its first title in twelve years.

During the 2022 edition of the Tournament, the Bleus de Galthié, led by their captain Antoine Dupont, alternately beat Italy (37-10), Ireland (30-24), Scotland (36- 17), Wales (13-9) and England (25-13).

"He brings us all his experience at the top level, he brings us all his expertise. He is very picky about a lot of things that most players have never heard of before. He brings us his expert touch and he done very well," international fly-half Romain Ntamack recently explained.

"He learned, he looked at what was being done everywhere to form his own opinion and that the players adhere to his ideas. It works. He is very well surrounded by his technical staff, everyone adheres to his speech. and we see that it works very well", added the Toulousain.

France is preparing to host the next World Cup, from September 8 to October 28, 2023, a major objective of the staff of the Blues, who will climb to 2nd place in the world rankings on Monday, just behind the South African world champions.

The XV of France is going to Japan this summer for its summer tour, with two matches against the Cherry Blossoms on July 2 and 9.

Fabien Galthié's men will then receive the Springboks and Australia in particular, in the fall of 2022.

© 2022 AFP