Rugby League Coaching Manuals

By Steve Douglas, Sporting Life - New France coach Bobbie Goulding is tapping up a former Great Britain captain as he looks to build his backroom staff ahead of the start of his three-year stint with Les Tricolores. Goulding, 37, has an extensive list of contacts following a glorious career which has seen him play for 10 clubs, as well as Great Britain and England.

He intends to appoint a Frenchman as his right-hand man but has raised the possibility of bringing a star name from home into his coaching team.

"I've spoken to a couple of people who I'd like to come on board with me," Goulding said.

"I'm not giving any names out but he is very experienced, an ex-Great Britain international captain. He is thinking about it and he is very keen.

"Over the next couple of weeks we'll see what happens.

"The first thing is an assistant coach and I feel myself that it should be someone from France, to help me learn about the team and for the culture. I know Nic (French Federation president Nicolas Larrat) has a couple of names."

There was no hiding the excitement on Goulding's face when asked about his plans for the French team, who had a disastrous time at the World Cup in November, ignominiously collecting the wooden spoon from the 10-team tournament after winning just one game.

His first match in charge comes on June 13 in a mid-season international against England in Paris, so he has a few months to get to grips with his new role.

He will speak to as many former colleagues and respected rugby experts as possible in a bid to help France get back on track.

They will include Shaun Edwards, his former team-mate at Wigan and now part of the coaching staff at Wasps and with the Welsh rugby union team.

"I'm not saying I'm the best coach in the world but if I can bring the knowledge of rugby that I've got off the likes of Ellery Hanley, Doug Lawton, Malcolm Reilly and Phil Larder, we'll do okay," said Goulding, whose own coaching experience is limited to two short spells at Rochdale.

"I've spoken to Shaun a few times. I think he's the most helpful person I've spoken to. He's been an absolute legend and he's really helped me over these last couple of months.

"I'll watch some of his sessions at Wasps, go down to see the Welsh if (head coach) Warren Gatland lets me, go to watch Premier League football teams, go round French teams, amateur clubs in England, anyone.

"I'm going to get out to the schools around Catalan and Toulouse. One player might catch the eye and he might be the one player you need."

Goulding's first big test as France coach will come in the new-look Four Nations tournament in the autumn.

Les Tricolores host Australia and New Zealand and then cross the Channel to take on England.

Goulding knows it is going to be an almost impossible task to get the better of the world's leading three teams, but he simply wants to see progress and a good attitude within his squad.

"I know what the headlines are going to be like (if France get well beaten)," Goulding added.

"But what people have to understand is there is a lot of rebuilding to do here. We are going to start with the foundations and of course we are going to get a few knocks along the way.

"But it's not about how hard you get knocked, it's how you get up from it. I'll always come back stronger.

"We need to get some pride back in the jersey. Everyone was expecting France to at least make the semi-finals of the World Cup. They underachieved as individuals and as a team.

"I want players with pride and passion who can take this country forward. If they don't want to play for us, there's the door. They can walk out and not come back."