Northern hemisphere rugby’s managerial merry-go-round was in a constant spin last season – with Toulon’s Mike Ford among the last of the coaches to clear his desk prematurely, just four matches from the end of the regular Top 14 season.
Richard Cockerill, who became consultant forwards coach at the club days after losing his job as director of rugby at Leicester Tigers in January, will take charge of first-team affairs during a difficult four-match run-in, starting his brief stint against a desperate Toulouse at Marseille’s Velodrome on Sunday, followed by games against top-six contenders Castres, Bordeaux and Pau…
James Harrington: Freelance sports journalist 