Jon Newcombe catches up with the forwards coach who is helping to turn a small French regional side into a major European force

When it comes to lineout technicians, Alex Codling broke the mould. So it should come as no surprise to find him thriving in the heart of France’s so-called plastic valley.
Since his brief stint with England came to an end in 2021, Codling has been coaching in Oyonnax, the small town on the French-Swiss border, to the north east of Lyon, which once accounted for most of the world’s Tupperware.
Whilst promotion to the Top 14 is not boxed off just yet because of the ...