At a press conference, the 51-year-old coach made official what until now had only been an agreement in principle with the Georgian federation, explaining that he will commit fully to the Lelos from next season.

Having arrived at Brive in November 2023 to revive a club with deep Top 14 roots,.but one now battling in Pro D2, Broncan paid tribute to the attachment of the supporters and of the town before turning the page.

The Georgian federation, looking for a fresh start after the departure of England’s Richard Cockerill, sees in him a coach capable of guiding the national team towards new objectives, notably the 2027 World Cup in Australia, where Georgia will face nations such as South Africa, Italy and Romania in the pool stage.

Broncan will remain in charge of CAB until the end of the current campaign, while preparing his transition into this international role, which stands as one of the key moments of his career after several years in various coaching positions at clubs and abroad.

In practical terms, his departure opens a new pivotal period for CA Brive, forced to plan for a major transition at the head of its sporting project, after investing heavily in the coach, only for it to end in a painful failure last year in the play-off, at the Stadium, against eventual champions Montauban.

What are the options?

While the manager will stay in post until the end of the Pro D2 season, ensuring immediate continuity, the Corrèze club’s board now has to prepare his succession on a tight schedule, with the key close-season decisions looming, from recruitment to contract extensions.

Brought in during the autumn of 2023 to give the club structure after relegation, Broncan embodied an all-encompassing vision combining sporting demands with internal reorganisation, and his departure (after already stepping back last summer) forces Brive to redefine their priorities, either by backing a similar profile able to settle in for the long haul, or by opting for a deliberate break in the cycle. The name of Franck Azéma was mentioned in Corrèze at one point.

A new lever?

Internally, the prospect could also weigh on the dressing room, particularly for players committed to a project designed over several years, even if the club insists on the need to stay fully focused until the end of the campaign.

For the board, the situation represents both a fresh risk of instability and a strategic opportunity, that of repositioning CAB in the hierarchy of French rugby at a time when the competition in Pro D2 remains fierce.

Finally, in image terms, seeing one of its managers called up to take charge of a national team is recognition of the work done, provided Brive can turn this forced transition into a lever for their future ambitions.