KEVIN ROUET

In three words

Jovial. Honest. Creative.

Playing CV

Primarily a scrum-half (also fly-half and centre), Bordeaux-born Rouet played at amateur level in France until he was 22 before moving to Quebec to study engineering and playing in the men’s leagues there.

Coaching background

The Frenchman never planned to become a full-time coach. He was working as an engineer when he made the switch in his late 20s and has coached the women’s teams at Laval University, Rugby Quebec and Stade Bordelais. He joined the national set-up as an assistant coach under Sandro Fiorino three years ago and took over as head coach last March aged just 35.

What he’s known for

Rouet wants his Canada team to be like Canada the country, to mix Anglo-Saxon order and French flair, to be comfortable playing multiple ways. “We want to be the best structured and unstructured team in the World Cup,” he says.

Who’s on his team

Duncan McNaughton, who worked with Exeter’s women’s team last term, looks after the forwards and new sevens coach Jack Hanratty will be with the squad for the early stages of the World Cup in NZ. Former Canada wing Maria Gallo is also in the back-room team.

Biggest achievement

Given he’s so new to a major role, it’s hard to pick one. Finishing second behind New Zealand at the Pacific Four Series in June was significant, particularly the 36-5 win over the USA when both sides were missing players involved in the Premier 15s final. Off the field, Rouet is proud of how he’s built trust with the players after the restructure that saw him promoted earlier in the year.