Lagisquet out of ideas

Lagisquet: ' I feel worn out, really tired'

Patrice Lagisquet's future as coach of Biarritz is in serious doubt after admitting a decade at the Basque club has starting to take its toll.

Their limp 16-3 defeat to Perpignan in the Top 14 on Saturday left them fifth in the table and put in jeopardy their chances of qualifying for the end-of-season semi-finals.

Lagisquet, a former France international, revealed he will meet with the club's directors this week to discuss his future.

But he admitted he is "worn out" and hinted he is ready to pass over the reins ahead of next season.

"As much as I think this is not the end of the cycle for this squad, which has evolved well since 2006, I do think that for me and my role around this team, this resembles an end of a cycle," he said.

"I have been at the club for 10 years. I feel worn out, really tired. The fatigue is physical and psychological.

"We are going to talk it over with the board this week and things will be decided in the days to follow.

"But I no longer feel I have the ability to bring what I could have brought to the team over the past few years.

"It's a fact. What I feel now is what I felt before - this isn't something new and isn't linked to the defeat [against Perpignan].

"The club needs to evolve, to grow. I have experienced some great things in my 10 years but I am a little worn out."

Biarritz have been one of the giants of French rugby for a while now - under Lagisquet they have won the championship on three occasions (2002, 2005 and 2006).

But over the last few years, their style of play has often been criticised as negative and too forward-orientated.

They have scored just 264 points in 20 games this campaign, the third lowest total in the Top 14.

Toulouse and Clermont-Auvergne, the current top two, have led the way with some superb attacking rugby and have both scored more than double the amount of points Biarritz have.

BO are eight points off the top four with six games remaining.