Jono Gibbes sacked as Clermont head coach

Former Leinster and Ulster coach Jono Gibbes has been relieved of his duties as Clermont head coach.

The New Zealander left his role as La Rochelle Director of Rugby - which saw Ronan O'Gara step into the role from head coach - in 2021, but the former European powerhouse have failed to arrest a slide in fortunes.

They currently sit in 10th position in the Top 14 with just half a dozen wins from 15 games, while in the Heineken Champions Cup, they have lost two of their three games, the most recent being Friday's 44-29 home reversal at the hands of Leicester Tigers.

Gibbes enjoyed a highly successful period as Leinster forwards coach between 2008 and 2014, with Leo Cullen stepping in to replace him when he departed for Clermont, spending four seasons as Franck Azema's assistant.

He left in 2017 after the team had won their second French Top 14 title to take up residence in Ulster, but that moved became mired in controversy.

When Les Kiss left his position as director of rugby in January 2018, Gibbes took over all coaching responsibility from the position of head coach, but within a month announced he would be leaving at the end of the season, granted an early release from the Irish province to return to his native New Zealand for family reasons.

Indeed in 2018 he oversaw Ulster, Waikato and La Rochelle after making a return to European and French rugby before rejoining Clermont in 2021.