Former France captain quits Montpellier

pulse 20:20 - 29 November 2016

Montpellier's coach Abdelatif Benazzi looks on before the French Top 14 rugby union match La Rochelle vs Montpellier on May 7, 2016 at the Marcel Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle, southwestern France

The former lock and backrow forward joined Montpellier in 2015 after the exit of Fabien Galthie

Former France rugby captain Abdelatif Benazzi on Tuesday parted company with French Top 14 side Montpellier, where he has held a management role for the past year.

The 48-year-old, capped 78 times for France, leaves before the end of his contract in June 2017, the club said in a statement.

"Abdelatif Benazzi's mission within Montpellier Herault Rugby has ended," the statement read.

The former lock and backrow forward, who played for Agen before finishing his career at English side Saracens in 2003, joined Montpellier in 2015 after the exit of another former France player Fabien Galthie and the appointment of South African coach Jake White.

White will be replaced at the end of the season by New Zealand coach Vern Cotter.