Ex-All Black Mannix quits as Pau manager

Toulouse - Ex-All Black Simon Mannix quit as Pau head coach after a poor run of results that sees the club languishing 11th in the Top 14.

Mannix was replaced by his assistants Nicolas Godignon and Frederic Manca until the end of the season.

"Given recent performances, I think it is preferable for the club to envisage a change which could bring about positive results and it's with this goal that I've decided to step down as sporting director," said Mannix, who won one cap for New Zealand, against France in 1994, and previously coached at Racing 92 and Munster.

Pau, with 34 points, are only four points ahead of Agen, and six ahead of Grenoble, in 13th place, from where the club has to play a relegation play-off against the promotion play-off loser in the ProD2.

Mannix, 47, touched down in Pau in 2014, but was left with head in his hands after watching his team suffer a crushing 71-21 loss to La Rochelle on the weekend, their fourth straight loss.