Jean-Claude Skrela (born 1 October 1949 in Colomiers, Haute-Garonne) is a former coach of the French national rugby union team. His son, David Skrela, is a French rugby union player and his daughter, Gaëlle Skrela, is a professional basketball player.

Early life Skrela was born in Colomiers near Toulouse in France. His parents were Polish refugees (his father came from the village Kobiela, his mother from the village Charbinowice). He lost his father when he was 12.

Playing career He played for FC Auch and Stade Toulousain and made his debut for in 1971 against . He won forty-six caps and won the Five Nations Championship in 1973 (tie victory) and in 1977 (Grand Slam). He also scored the first four-point try in a major Test match on 20 November 1971, when he charged down a kick from Australian fullback Arthur McGill. First five-point try, England at Twickenham and the origins of a No.8

Coaching In 1983, he joined his team-mate Pierre Villepreux as coach of Stade Toulousain. They won three times the home championship, twice against Toulon (in 1985 and in 1989) and against Agen in 1986.

He was appointed director of rugby at Colomiers in 1994 but left his position to replace Pierre Berbizier as French head coach after the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

He became the first European head coach to win on his first attempt against , but he failed to win against and like his predecessor Pierre Berbizier. France suffered a few defeats against lowest level teams, like in 1999 or like in 1997 (Italy was making a lot of progress at this stage), but was also able to make great come backs, like against in 1997 or against in their World Cup semi final at Twickenham.RWC #4: France upset the odds and the All Blacks in 1999 epic - Irish Times, 15 September 2015France-Nouvelle-Zélande 1999 : dans les coulisses du "plus grand match" de l'histoire de la Coupe du monde du rugby - France Info, 17 October 2015 He also made a back-to-back Grand Slam in 1997 and 1998. He suffered a lack of results in 1999 before the World Cup.Rugby : vous croyez que le XV de France de 2019 est le pire de l'histoire ? En 1999, ça n'était déjà pas beau à voir... - France Info, 10 February 2019

After Jacques Fouroux, he became the second head coach to lead France to the World Cup Final, but lost to Australia. He resigned as French head coach on 16 November 1999.Sport: Rugby Union Skrela steps down as French coach - BBC Sports, 16 November 1999Rugby. L'entraîneur du XV de France quitte ses fonctions.Jean-Claude Skrela choisit d'en rester là - Libération, 17 November 1999

International matches as Head coach Matches (1995–1999)MatchesDateOppositionVenueScore(Fra.–Opponent)CompetitionCaptain19951 14 October Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry, Buenos Aires 34–22 Latin Cup Philippe Saint-André2 17 October Estadio Monumental José Fierro, Tucumán 52–8 3 21 October Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry, Buenos Aires 47–204 11 November Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 22–15 Autumn internationals 5 18 November Parc des Princes, Paris 12–3719966 20 January Parc des Princes, Paris 15–12 1996 Five Nations Philippe Saint-André7 3 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 14–19 8 17 February Parc des Princes, Paris 45–109 16 March Arms Park, Cardiff 15–1610 20 April Stade Jean Alric, Aurillac 64–12 Test match11 22 June Estadio Arquitecto Ricardo Etcheverry, Buenos Aires 34–27 1996 tour12 29 June 34–1513 25 September Arms Park, Cardiff 40–33 Test match14 30 November Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 12–22 Autumn internationals Abdelatif Benazzi15 7 December Parc des Princes, Paris 12–13199716 18 January Lansdowne Road, Dublin 32–15 1997 Five Nations Abdelatif Benazzi17 15 February Parc des Princes, Paris 27–2218 1 March Twickenham, London 23–2019 15 March Parc des Princes, Paris 47–2020 22 March Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble 32–40 1995-97 European Cup final Fabien Pelous21 1 June Stadionul Dinamo, Bucharest 51–20 1997 tour Abdelatif Benazzi22 21 June Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney 15–2923 28 June Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane 19–2624 18 October Stade Jacques Fouroux, Auch 30–19 Latin Cup Philippe Saint-André25 22 October Stade Antoine Béguère, Lourdes 39–326 26 October Stade Maurice Trélut, Tarbes 32–2727 15 November Stade de Gerland, Lyon 32–36 Autumn internationals28 22 November Parc des Princes, Paris 10–52199829 7 February Stade de France, Saint-Denis 24–17 1998 Five Nations Raphaël Ibañez30 21 February Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 51–1631 7 March Stade de France, Saint-Denis 18–1632 5 April Wembley Stadium, London 51–033 13 June Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires 35–18 1998 tour34 20 June 37–1235 27 June National Stadium, Suva 34–936 14 November Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes 34–14 Autumn internationals37 21 November Stade de France, Saint-Denis 21–32199938 6 February Lansdowne Road, Dublin 10–9 1999 Five Nations Raphaël Ibañez39 6 March Stade de France, Saint-Denis 33–3440 20 March Twickenham, London 10–2141 10 April Stade de France, Saint-Denis 22–3642 3 June Stade Pierre Antoine, Castres 62–8 Test match43 12 June Apia Park, Apia 39–22 1999 tour44 16 June Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nuku'alofa 16–20 Fabien Galthié45 26 June Athletic Park, Wellington 7–54 Raphaël Ibañez46 28 August Millennium Stadium, Cardiff 23–34 1999 RWC Warm-up47 2 October Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers 33–20 1999 Rugby World Cup48 8 October Parc Lescure, Bordeaux 47–1349 16 October Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse 28–1950 24 October Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland 47–2651 31 October Twickenham, London, England 43–3152 6 November Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales 12–35

Record by country Opponent Played Won Drew Lost Win ratio (%) For Against 300 159 67 122 33 20 72 70 72 28 105 50 96 81 47 13 84 137 268 51 39 22 134 91 66 123 16 20 189 139 TOTAL 1588 1126

Honours Five Nations Championship Winner 1997, 1998 Rugby World Cup Runner-up 1999 Latin Cup Winner 1995, 1997 Trophée des Bicentenaires Runner-up 1997, 1998

Other honours As a player France Five Nations Championship Winner 1973, 1977 Runner-up 1976, 1978

Stade toulousain France Rugby Union Championship Runner-up 1980 Challenge Yves du Manoir Runner-up 1971

As a coach Stade toulousain France Rugby Union Championship Winner 1985, 1986, 1989 Runner-up 1991 Challenge Yves du Manoir Winner 1988 Runner-up 1984

References

External links ESPN Scrum Profile