On the occasion of the release of his autobiography "La tête haute" (Hugo Sport editions), the former rugby player, coach of Stade Toulousain and coach of the XV of France, Guy Novès was the guest of Europe 1 Sport, Saturday evening.

He spoke of his difficult end to his career and his strained relationship with Bernard Laporte and Serge Simon.

INTERVIEW

Three years ago, Guy Novès was sacked by the French Rugby Federation (FFR) for "serious misconduct" while he was the coach of the XV of France, which faces Wales on Saturday night.

A difficult phase that he recounts in his autobiography,

La tête haute 

(Hugo Sport editions), released on March 4.

Guest of Europe 1 Sport on Saturday, the one who was also manager of the Toulouse Stadium looks back on his strained relations with Bernard Laporte and Serge Simon, respectively president and vice-president of the FFR.

>> Find Europe 1 Sport in podcast and in replay here 

"Not people I would want to hang out with in my future"

"These are people who, for me, have absolutely no interest at the moment", launches Guy Novès who, in 2017, two years after finally accepting the post of coach of the France team, was sacked by Bernard Laporte following the poor results of the XV of France.

However, Guy Novès does not harbor resentment, he says.

"They follow their path, I am mine."

However, the Toulousain does not wish to deal with them again.

"These aren't the people I would want to hang out with in my future, and I don't think they want to hang out with me either."

In March 2019, the former coach of the XV of France won his case against the FFR (ordered to pay him 1.008 million euros), the "serious fault" not having been recognized by the industrial tribunal of Toulouse.

"My life is not just work anymore"

"My end of career was very hard for me, I spent a complicated year", confesses Guy Novès, evoking a procedure of a year and a half and the desire, today, to focus on others projects.

"I have an important life, with children, grandchildren, many friends, very close. My life is no longer just work, even if work has occupied a large part of this life. -there, "he said, adding that he was not sure whether he would ever get back on the edge of a field.

Several proposals were made to him, however, especially within the Italian team, coached from 2011 to 2016 by the coach who succeeded him in the XV of France, Jacques Brunel.

"Jacques Brunel is not one of the people I admire," he tackles.

"He did it, it's up to him, he has his personal life."