Jean-Claude Skrela (born 1 October 1949 in Colomiers, Haute-Garonne) is a former coach of the French national rugby union team. His son, David Skrela, is a French rugby union player and his daughter, Gaëlle Skrela, is a professional basketball player.

Jean-Claude Skrela
Jean-Claude Skrela in 1971
Date of birth (1949-10-01) 1 October 1949 (age 75)
Place of birthColomiers, France
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight199 lb (90 kg)
Notable relative(s)David Skrela (son)
Gaëlle Skrela (daughter)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1968–1970 FC Auch Gers ()
1970–1983 Stade Toulousain ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1971–1978 France 46 (24)
Coaching career
Years Team
1983–1992 Stade Toulousain
1994–1995 US Colomiers
1995–1999 France
Correct as of 2019-03-27

Early life

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Skrela was born in Colomiers near Toulouse in France. His parents were Polish refugees (his father came from the village Kobiela, his mother from the village Charbinowice). He lost his father when he was 12.

Playing career

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He played for FC Auch and Stade Toulousain and made his debut for France in 1971 against South Africa. He won forty-six caps and won the Five Nations Championship in 1973 (tie victory) and in 1977 (Grand Slam). He also scored the first four-point try in a major Test match on 20 November 1971, when he charged down a kick from Australian fullback Arthur McGill.[1]

Coaching

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In 1983, he joined his team-mate Pierre Villepreux as coach of Stade Toulousain. They won three times the home championship, twice against Toulon (in 1985 and in 1989) and against Agen in 1986.[citation needed]

He was appointed director of rugby at Colomiers in 1994 but left his position to replace Pierre Berbizier as French head coach after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.[citation needed]

He became the first European head coach to win on his first attempt against New Zealand, but he failed to win against South Africa and Australia like his predecessor Pierre Berbizier. France suffered a few defeats against lowest level teams, like Tonga in 1999 or like Italy in 1997 (Italy was making a lot of progress at this stage), but was also able to make great come backs, like against England in 1997 or against New Zealand in their World Cup semi final at Twickenham.[2][3] He also made a back-to-back Grand Slam in 1997 and 1998. He suffered a lack of results in 1999 before the World Cup.[4]

After Jacques Fouroux, he became the second head coach to lead France to the World Cup Final, but lost to Australia. He resigned as French head coach on 16 November 1999.[5][6]

International matches as Head coach

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Record by country

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Opponent Played Won Drew Lost Win ratio (%) For Against
  Argentina 8 8 0 0 100 300 159
  Australia 4 0 0 4 000 67 122
  Canada 1 1 0 0 100 33 20
  England 4 3 0 1 075 72 70
  Fiji 2 2 0 0 100 72 28
  Ireland 4 4 0 0 100 105 50
  Italy 3 2 0 1 067 96 81
  Namibia 1 1 0 0 100 47 13
  New Zealand 4 2 0 2 050 84 137
  Romania 5 5 0 0 100 268 51
  Samoa 1 1 0 0 100 39 22
  Scotland 4 2 0 2 050 134 91
  South Africa 4 0 0 4 000 66 123
  Tonga 1 0 0 1 000 16 20
  Wales 6 3 0 3 050 189 139
TOTAL 52 34 0 18 065 1588 1126

Honours

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Other honours

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As a player

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France

Stade toulousain

As a coach

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Stade toulousain

References

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Sporting positions
Preceded by France national rugby union team coach
1995–1999
Succeeded by