Bayonne are in the news again. A former back-rower and captain of the Aviron, Jean Monribot (38), until now the Espoirs coach, joins the professional staff to work on set-piece ball, and in particular on the lineout, alongside Stéphane Barberena.

That reinforcement comes at the board’s initiative, notably president Philippe Tayeb and director of rugby Laurent Travers, despite the reservations publicly expressed by manager Grégory Patat, who was not in favour of the change.

Monribot’s appointment, with the new man starting work with the pros at Monday’s session, is intended to bring freshness and a new lease of life to a squad that has been tested and at times shaky in the set piece, after a run of poor results away from Jean-Dauger.

The move remains a limited one for now, with the club stopping short of overhauling the staff, but seeking to react gradually to a mixed season, marked by persistent difficulties and internal tension between the board and the coaching staff.

Aviron Bayonnais will now have to square these changes with their ambitions, hoping that this first technical adjustment can help reverse the team’s negative momentum away from its fortress.