Gustard earns two-year Stade Français extension after steering club from relegation to semi-finals

Paul Gustard has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension at Stade Français, securing his future at the Top 14 club until at least 2029. Owner Hans-Peter Wild agreed the deal after Gustard turned the Paris side from relegation candidates into genuine title contenders in under two seasons.

Gustard, a former assistant coach with England who has also worked at Saracens and Treviso, was appointed head coach at Stade Jean-Bouin in October 2024 — two years after first joining the club. He inherited a squad fighting to avoid the drop following the sacking of Karim Ghezal, steadied the ship to secure safety, and then guided Stade to third place in the Top 14 last season before they fell 25-15 to Montpellier in the semi-finals.

The club held a one-year option on Gustard’s services for the current campaign, but Wild has now moved to tie him down on a longer deal, reflecting the confidence placed in the Englishman’s methods.

Gustard has been candid about his ambitions since the start of the season, telling L’Equipe that he measures success by silverware alone. “I have a goal. To win a title. If not, I will experience it as a failure,” he said. “Even if I am aware of the difficulty of the Top 14, which increases in level every season, where everyone is able to beat each of the other thirteen teams.”

The 51-year-old identified Toulouse as the benchmark any title-chasing side must clear. “To win a title, you will necessarily have to beat Toulouse in the semi-finals or final. For this, it will be necessary to score more than 30 points. They always do it.”

Gustard also outlined the tactical philosophy he has tried to instil at the club, blending French flair with English structure. “When I came to Paris, I tried to embrace this French-style game mentality while nevertheless keeping the orderly side of the English mentality. Today, I believe that my team has a good balance between madness and pragmatism.”

Stade began the current Top 14 season with two wins and two defeats from their opening four fixtures, leaving Gustard with work still to do if he is to deliver the title he has publicly demanded of himself.