USAP Staff in Flux Following Paris Defeat, Potential Coaching Changes Loom
Perpignan, France - The future of the USAP (Union Sportive Perpignan Argelès) coaching staff hangs in the balance following a decisive 11-28 defeat against Paris in Top 14 play on October 4th, 2025. Head Coach Franck Azéma has publicly accepted duty for the teamS performance, stating, “The message I send, it does not pass. It must be my responsibility.” The club is now evaluating all options, with potential staff reinforcements under serious consideration.
The USAP leadership, led by President François Rivière, convened with the coaching staff Sunday morning and will meet with club leaders this afternoon. Crucially, the ultimate decision regarding the staff’s future rests on feedback from the players themselves. A full club meeting is scheduled for Monday morning to determine the path forward, though reports indicate a complete overhaul is not currently planned.
Alongside the evaluation of the existing staff, the Catalan club is actively exploring potential additions. Nicolas Nadau (50), currently developing his career with Grenoble, is a key target. Other profiles being considered include Jean-Baptiste Élissalde (47) and Jean-Frédéric Dubois (52), with Laurent Labit (57) also on the list of potential recruits, as confirmed by Rivière to Sud radio.
The urgency to resolve the situation is heightened by the team’s upcoming match against Lyon on saturday, October 10th, at 4:35 p.m. The club faces a critical decision: whether to move forward with the current coaching structure, including Azéma and David Marty, or implement changes before their sixth game of the season. The first concrete decisions are anticipated within the next 24 hours in Perpignan.
