French lessons inspire Joe El-Abd

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NEWPORT, WALES - DECEMBER 09: Joe El-Abd, Head Coach of Oyannax Rugby, looks on the EPCR Challenge Cup match between Dragons RFC and Oyonnax Rugby at Rodney Parade on December 09, 2023 in Newport, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

By Adam Hathaway

Joe El-Abd, England’s new defence coach, revealed his time with Toulon’s Galacticos helped him realise you need more than talent and money to guarantee success.
The former flanker was at Toulon from 2009 to 2012, leaving just before Jonny Wilkinson inspired them to three Champions Cup wins on the spin.
Apart from Wilkinson, players such as Bakkies Botha, George Smith, Tana Umaga and Joe van Niekerk were on the roster as president Mourad Boudjellal splashed the cash to attract the world’s biggest names.
El-Abd also played and coached at Oyonnax and had a stint on the staff a...

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