Richard Cockerill on three-man shortlist to be head coach of Georgia just days after being sacked by French club side Montpellier
- Richard Cockerill was dramatically sacked by French club side Montpellier
- It came after Bernard Laporte was brought in by club’s owner Mohed Altrad
- Levan Maisashvili left his position as head coach after this year’s World Cup
Richard Cockerill is on a three-man shortlist to take on the head coach role of ambitious Georgia just days after being dramatically sacked by French club side Montpellier.
Former Leicester and Edinburgh boss Cockerill left his role as an England assistant to Steve Borthwick at the conclusion of this year’s Six Nations to return to France.
But his stint in charge of Montpellier came to a dramatic end at the weekend when he was sacked by Bernard Laporte who had been brought in by owner Mohed Altrad.
Laporte was appointed as Montpellier’s director of owner by close friend Altrad who almost immediately removed Cockerill from his position.
The former hooker won just won of seven games with Montpellier.
Richard Cockerill’s stint in charge of Montpellier came to a dramatic end at the weekend
But MailSport understands Cockerill could soon be back in work with Georgia interested in his services.
Reports in France on Tuesday suggested Cockerill’s move to Georgia is a done deal but the Lelos are still undergoing their recruitment process to find a successor to Levan Maisashvili.
Former Georgia head coach Maisashvili left his position after this year’s World Cup but will stay with the Georgian Rugby Union in a performance role.
Cockerill and two other unknown candidates are in the frame to replace him although it is not yet certain the former England man will take on the job.
No date for a Georgian Rugby board meeting to see who gets their top rugby role has been set as things stand.
But as a former front-row forward, Cockerill would be a good fit for Georgia whose traditional strength lies in their pack even if they have tried to evolve their game behind the scrum.
Cockerill’s no-nonsense style of management would also likely go down well with the Lelos.
Laporte’s return to Montpellier has proved controversial.
The former France head coach and ex-World Rugby vice chairman resigned from his senior role at the French Federation in January after being found guilty of favouritism in awarding a shirt sponsorship contract for the national side to Altrad. Laporte is appealing the ruling.
Montpellier, French champions in 2022, are bottom of the TOP14 table as things stand.
Former Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili left his position after this year’s World Cup
Rene Bouscatel, president of France’s top league the TOP14, said: ‘It’s a question that only concerns those at the club and Bernard. It’s their business. I respect him on a sporting level, but it’s their business. In French law you’re innocent until proven guilty. We can think whatever we want but that’s what it is.
‘It’s a difficult topic if we look at it on a human level. But until he is charged or proven guilty he can do whatever he wants. I’m a lawyer, so again I know it’s innocent until proven guilty.
‘We can’t prevent him (Laporte) from going about his life. For me, it’s very good.
‘It’s a choice that was made by Montpellier. It’s very good that someone with the skills and experience of Bernard comes to the club. It’s a club problem. Everyone makes their choices.’ Georgia Rugby has also been given another boost after they signed a three-year marketing partnership with European Professional Club rugby.
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