Former international flanker Marc Lievremont has been appointed France coach, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) have said.

Lievremont succeeds Bernard Laporte, who joined the French government last Monday as a junior minister for sport.

Laporte, in charge for eight years, had planned to step down after the World Cup which ended last weekend. France finished fourth in the tournament after being knocked out by England in the semi-finals.

Lievremont won 23 caps between 1995 and 1999 and, as a coach, the 38-year-old has guided Dax back to the French first division.

He will be assisted by former France wing Emile Ntamack and Didier Retiere, who will be in charge of the backs and forwards respectively.

Ntamack made 46 appearances for France from 1994 to 2000. He and Retiere were joint coaches of the France Under-21 side that won the world title last year.

"A page has just been turned with the World Cup and we want to write a new one with these three men," FFR president Bernard Lapasset said yesterday.

Lievremont was handed a four-year deal and will work together with Jo Maso, who stays on as team manager.

"What we liked about Marc Lievremont is that he is modest, perceptive and competent," Lapasset said.

"Marc Lievremont is a real player, a winner who never lets go and he knows the players in the French championship well," said Jean-Claude Skrela, the technical director of French rugby. "He was the ideal candidate for what is a turning point for French rugby."

France need to undertake a rebuilding process with several players, among them hooker and captain Raphael Ibanez, expected to retire from the international game.

The new coaching staff also need to define a playing style. Laporte faced criticism after France concentrated on defending and kicking instead of relying on their trademark flair during the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Australia legend Stephen Larkham is set to spend the rest of his playing days in Japan after admitting the collapse of his move to Edinburgh dashed his hopes of a move to Europe.

The 33-year-old outhalf agreed a two-year deal to move to Scotland when the club were being run by Edinburgh Rugby Ltd.

However, the sudden end in August of a franchise agreement with the consortium led by Bob Carruthers, which saw the club returned into Scottish Rugby Union hands, resulted in Larkham's contract being scrapped.

"The cut-off for the European tournament was the 18th of this month, so we really didn't have a lot of time when Edinburgh pulled out," Larkham told the Canberra Times.

"Everything was just so rushed because Edinburgh pulled out so late, so now we're looking at other options and Japan comes up in June next year which certainly would be a bit easier for us at this stage."

Larkham has already held talks with Top League teams.

Former Australia coach Alan Jones would be prepared to return to his old post if asked to take over from the outgoing John Connolly.

Jones, now the host of Sydney's highest-rated radio show, said he was not actively seeking the Australian role, but did not rule out accepting the job if offered.