Once again in 2019, the players attending the PSA Rugby Academy Tignes are lucky to have a rugby legend in PSA Academies Chairman and Co-Founder Philippe Saint-André to learn from. Hands on and directly involved throughout the three weeks of the Academy, Philippe brings one of the most impressive playing and coaching CVs in European Rugby to the programme.
Read more about Philippe’s career in his profile Q&A below plus see the full PSA Rugby Academy Tignes coaching team line up here
| Question/Area | Answer |
| Full Name | Philippe Saint-André |
| Clubs as Player | US Romanaise, AS Montferrand, Gloucester |
| Playing Honours | CLUB
Top14 Championship final 1993-94 (ASM) COUNTRY France – 69 caps, 34 as captain, 32 tries Captain of last winning test team in NZ Captain of 1995 RWC squad |
| Current Coaching Position(s) | PSA Academies |
| Coaching Honours | Teams – Gloucester, CS Bourgoin-Jallieu, Sale Sharks, Toulon, France, Cameroon
Honours 2005 European Challenge Cup Winners (Sale Sharks) 2006 English Premiership Champions (Sales Sharks) 2006 Premiership Coach of the Year 2010 European Challenge Cup Finalists (Toulon) |
| Coaching Speciality | Backs, Attack Continuity |
| Coaching Pet Hates | Players not getting involved in the game |
| Most Likely To Say When Coaching | Joeur (Play) |
| Least Likely To Say When Coaching | Nothing |
| Best Player You Played With? | Philippe Sella |
| Best Player You’ve Coached? | Too many across too many different positions – Jason Robinson, Sonny Bill Williams, Jonny Wilkinson, Sebastian Chabal, Wesley Fofana, Richard Wigglesworth etc. |
| Which C.A.R.D.S. feature is Most Important for A Young Player? (Creativity, Awareness, Resilience, Decision Making, Self Organisation)? | Resilience |
| Favourite Physical Exercise? | Hiking, Tennis |
| Most Looking Forward To At The PSA Rugby Academy? | Working with ambitious players and coaches from more than 12 countries |
| Dream Coaching Job? | All Blacks Head Coach |
| Best Rugby Experience To Date? | The 5 years coaching Sale Sharks |
| Favourite Current Player? | Kieron Read |
| Favourite Rugby Ground? | Twickenham or the old Parc des Princes |
| Favourite Pro Rugby Jersey? | France National Jersey |
| Favourite Rugby Podcast/Programme? | My own show on RMC Sport! |
| Who Wins the 2019 RWC? | New Zealand |
