What if Rouen tried to bounce back with a French coaching legend?

Struggling badly in ELITE 2, Rouen could be on the verge of a major shake-up with the possible arrival of veteran coach Jean-Denys Choulet. According to our information, the longtime French bench boss is a serious candidate to take over a Normandy squad that has lost its footing, currently sitting 16th and firmly in the relegation fight.

Since Sylvain Delorme stepped aside at the end of 2025, the interim led by assistants Jérôme Willeman and Kevin Chapel has failed to halt the slide. Rouen now holds just a two-win cushion over Quimper, who occupy the first relegation spot, and enters the stretch run on a three-game losing streak — momentum clearly moving in the wrong direction.

A worrying trend approaching the final stretch

The alarm bells are ringing for RMB. Over the past three outings, Rouen’s defensive issues have been glaring: 101 points allowed against Roanne, 107 to Nantes, and most damaging, a 79–88 home loss to SCABB — a direct relegation rival — on Tuesday night.

It’s not just the losses, it’s the trajectory. The team looks short on identity and consistency at the worst possible time, with the season entering its decisive stretch. In that climate, the push to bring in an experienced voice on the sideline has picked up real momentum in recent days.

Jean-Denys Choulet, the choice of experience

Without a team since guiding MKS Dąbrowa Górnicza to safety in Poland’s top division in spring 2025, Jean-Denys Choulet has been waiting for the right opportunity. At 67, the 2007 French champion with Roanne and 2017 title winner with Élan Chalon could soon find himself back on a French sideline.

Parting ways with Chorale de Roanne in spring 2024, Choulet has made no secret of his desire to rejoin a competitive project. In Rouen, the assignment would be straightforward but urgent: steady a group that has lost confidence and secure ELITE 2 survival as quickly as possible.

In a league that grows more competitive every season, a coach with experience in both championship runs and relegation scraps could make a real difference. Now it’s a matter of timing — because in the survival race, every game carries weight.