Stade Français recruit former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer

Former Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer will join Top 14 strugglers Stade Francais ahead of next season as Director of Rugby and Head Coach of the Paris-based outfit.

Meyer has signed a two-year contract with the club with an option of an additional season. He will succeed former All Black Greg Cooper, who quit Stade two months ago to return to New Zealand for family reasons.

Meyer hasn't coached since resigning after leading the Springboks to a third place finish at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

Stade lie 12th in the French Top 14 table with five rounds remaining having won just seven of 21 matches, and are just two points above relegation-threatened Oyonnax.

He previously coached Pretoria-based Bulls to three Super Rugby titles in four seasons and spent a season in England with Leicester Tigers.