Lyon, France – April 23, 2026 – Lyon Rugby (LOU) officially announced on Thursday the appointment of Philippe Boher as the club’s new Sporting Director. This move fills a crucial position that has been vacant since Florian Gengenbacher’s departure in November 2025.
Boher to Oversee Comprehensive Sporting Development
Boher, who previously served with the National Technical Directorate of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), will officially begin his duties on July 1, 2026. His primary mission will be to “support the club’s sports sector” and “actively contribute to the structuring and coherence of the overall project.”
The club’s statement emphasized that Boher will focus on “strengthening the links between all components of the project, from youth teams to the professional sector.” Key principles guiding his work will include “transversality, the establishment of a structuring framework, the affirmation of a strong sporting identity, the coherence of actions, and the support of club stakeholders.”
President Expresses Enthusiasm for New Appointment
Marc-Antoine Ginon, President of LOU, expressed his satisfaction with the new hire. “We are very happy to welcome Philippe Boher to the club,” Ginon stated in the official communiqué. “He will bring us a lot of expertise thanks to his experience and background in Perpignan and with the French national team. This will allow me, as president, to strengthen my sporting choices in the future.”
Boher Eager to Join “Great Institution”
Philippe Boher himself shared his excitement about joining LOU, describing it as “a great institution with a lot of skills at all levels of the sporting project.” He added, “I really look forward to joining this team from July 1st.” Boher, a former development manager for the French U20 national team, will work closely with all club components, including head coach Karim Ghezal.
Filling a Key Organizational Gap
The Sporting Director position at LOU became available after Florian Gengenbacher, who joined in the summer of 2023, left the club in November following a reorganization of the sporting department that accompanied the arrival of Karim Ghezal. Boher’s appointment is expected to bring stability and a clear vision to the club’s sporting strategy.
This announcement comes amidst a busy period for rugby news, with other headlines including Valence-Romans’ narrow victory against Brive in Pro D2, Bayonne’s dwindling Top 14 hopes, and Toulouse’s rejected requests regarding the Salary Cap. The LOU’s proactive step in securing a seasoned Sporting Director underscores its commitment to long-term success and development within the competitive landscape of French rugby.
Source: https://sports.orange.fr/rugby/top-14/lyon-ou/article/lyon-boher-arrive-comme-directeur-sportif-exclu-CNT000002oPGnK.amp
