Jean-Claude Skrela

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.

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.

He played for FC Auch and Stade toulousain and made is debut for France in 1971 against South Africa. 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.

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 New Zealand, but he failed to win against South Africa and Australia like his predecessor Pierre Berbizier. France suffered a few defeats against lowest level teams, like Tonga in 1999 or like Italy in 1997 (Italy was making a lot of progress at this stage), but was also able to make great come backs, like against England in 1997 or against New Zealand in their World Cup semi final at Twickenham. 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.

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 November 16, 1999.

Record by country

Opponent	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Win ratio (%)	For	Against
Argentina	8	8	0	0	100	300	159
Australia	4	0	0	4	000	67	122
Canada	1	1	0	0	100	33	20
England	4	3	0	1	075	72	70
Fiji	2	2	0	0	100	72	28
Ireland	4	4	0	0	100	105	50
Italy	3	2	0	1	067	96	81
Namibia	1	1	0	0	100	47	13
New Zealand	4	2	0	2	050	84	137
Romania	5	5	0	0	100	268	51
Samoa	1	1	0	0	100	39	22
Scotland	4	2	0	2	050	134	91
South Africa	4	0	0	4	000	66	123
Tonga	1	0	0	1	000	16	20
Wales	6	3	0	3	050	189	139
TOTAL	52	34	0	18	065	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

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