Courtesy of Austin Elite Rugby

Austin Elite Rugby is proud to announce the signing of Alain Hyardet as the team's new head coach. Hyardet brings his considerable coaching experience to Austin Elite Rugby for the 2018 inaugural Major League Rugby season.

"We look forward to Alain bringing his many years of top level coaching experience to Austin Elite Rugby," AER chairman and owner Richard Osborn said.

After retiring from playing professional rugby in 1996, Hyardet began a new career as a coach for USAP in Perpignan, France, and led them to the first TOP 16 Final in 1998 against Stade Français. In 1999, he joined the Béziers (PRO D2), becoming D2 champions in their first season. Three seasons later, they qualified for the European Champions league.



Hyardet left AS Béziers in 2004 for Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne (ASM) for two seasons, playing a European Championship Final against the London Harlequins.

In 2007, he joined Montpellier for three seasons and debuted players such as François Trinh-Duc, Louis Picamoles, Fulgence Ouedraogo, and Julien Tomas.



Joining Marseille in 2011, Hyardet coached the legendary Jonah Lomu for his last season.

Hyardet has coached such notable players as Richard Cockerill, Thomas, Marc Lievremont, Olivier Magne, Stephen Jones, Aurelien Rougerie, Jamie Cudmore, Brock James, and many more.

As a player, Hyardet played for three clubs throughout his career: AS Clermont-Ferrand, AS Béziers, and the Castres Olympique. He was recognized for his performance on the field with two caps for France in 1995 against Argentina and Italy. That same year, he played in the first-ever European championship with Castres Olympique.