According to an official club announcement issued on September 24, 2026, former Niort RC manager Damien Neveu has been appointed as the recruitment coordinator for the Stade Rochelais professional team.
Return to La Rochelle After Niort Liquidation
Neveu’s return to professional rugby follows a turbulent period at the end of his tenure with Niort RC. After helping the club secure its position in Nationale on February 28 following a victory against Massy, Neveu faced the abrupt liquidation of the club’s professional structure on March 27, 2026. Deeply affected by the collapse, the former manager initially planned to step away from the sport entirely to pursue a professional career transition.
However, the Stade Rochelais recruitment coordinator role drew him back to the sport. According to the club’s announcement, Neveu will work closely with club management and the professional coaching staff. His core responsibilities include directing the recruitment workflow, analyzing market trends, tracking player profiles that match squad requirements, and managing communications with player agents and market stakeholders.
Before managing Niort, Neveu built an extensive background in player development and coaching. His career path featured a stint as the sporting manager for the Stade Montois training center in Mont-de-Marsan, giving him deep familiarity with talent identification and youth structures before his appointment in Niort.
Stade Rochelais Season Context
Neveu steps into his new front-office role as Stade Rochelais begins its season. The club opened the season with consecutive victories against Toulouse and Toulon before dropping a fixture to Racing 92. Working alongside staff members who were former teammates during his playing days between 2008 and 2013, Neveu will oversee ongoing roster assessment and future squad planning for the maritime side.
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