7th Tackle: French say ‘Oui’ to colourful John

He’s served hard time and admitted to being approached to fix matches.

When it comes to colourful characters in rugby league, there’s none more blinding than Johnny Elias.

The infamous journeyman also made his mark as a coach after retiring in the mid-Nineties; guiding French outfit Pia Donkeys, as well as Lebanon through its only World Cup campaign in 2000.

Now he’s back on the International scene for this year’s tournament – although not with the Cedars.

Elias has instead been appointed as an assistant coach with France, who will tackle his Lebanese compatriots in Canberra on the opening weekend in late October.

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Elias will work under Chanticleers head coach Aurelein Cologni.

The team will base itself in the heart of Sea Eagles territory at Narrabeen for a fortnight before travelling to the Nation’s capital.

Drawn alongside Lebanon in the Pool of Death with Australia and England, a first-up win is critical to both sides’ hopes of not only progressing to the quarter finals, but also earning automatic qualification to the next World Cup in 2021.