France advertise Saint-Andre's job

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) on Friday launched the application process to find the successor to incumbent coach Philippe Saint-Andre after the September 18 to October 31 World Cup.

Potential candidates have until April 25 to apply by registered mail.

The federation asked that candidates submit a letter of motivation along with their vision of the game and backroom staff proposals.

The names most bandied about to be Saint-Andre's successor are those of Bordeaux-Begles coach Raphael Ibanez, France under-20 Fabien Pelous and former Montpellier manager Fabien Galthie.

There is also some debate as to whether veteran Toulouse coach Guy Noves will again be approached after having turned down the job in 2011.

The new coach will be named between May 15 and 31, after a series of interviews and will be expected to take up his role from November 1, the day after the final of the World Cup in England.

Saint-Andre, who won 69 caps for France as a wing, took over as France coach after the World Cup of 2011, when Marc Lievremont surprisingly led a bickering, disjointed Les Bleus team to the Final where they lost 7-8 to New Zealand.

Saint-Andre has struggled to impose himself since he took over and his record of just 15 wins in 37 games is the worst of any French coach.

There were calls for his head after back-to-back Six Nations losses to Ireland and Wales, but a 29-0 win in Rome over Italy meant that the French still had an outside chance of winning the tournament if they'd been able to pull off an upset win in England - they eventually lost 55-35.

Agence France-Presse