PHILIPPE Saint-Andre is relishing a return to Clermont-Ferrand this week but would love nothing better than to scotch his popularity among its rugby mad residents.

The Sale director of rugby became a cult hero in the city after a successful nine-year spell as captain of French rugby powerhouses Montferrand, now known as Clermont-Auvergne.

Before the days of professionalism in rugby, he even ran a successful bar and restaurant there, Le Gourmand, a popular meeting place for Clermont’s young lovers.

And in one of those quirks of the rugby calendar, Saint-Andre’s Sharks were drawn alongside his former team in the pool stages of this year’s Heineken Cup and travel there on Saturday for their competition opener.

Already, Saint-Andre has received numerous invitations to rekindle old friendships and enjoy the local hospitality but has no intention of celebrating anything other than a Sale win.

He said: “I have some fantastic memories from there. I wasn an international when I played for Clermont-Ferrand, I was French captain and I was also captain of Clermont-Ferrand.

“I played there for nine years but I also had a pub, restaurant and disco over there so when I go back people say, ‘I met my wife there and we have three children now so it’s all thanks to you!’.

“I left there 12 years ago so it’s a long time ago but still I have a lot of friends.

“But I’m not going there to visit my friends or go to the disco, I’m going there with Sale to try and challenge them. The best present will be if we can beat them.

“They are rugby mad there, it is the number one sport and it will be a fantastic atmosphere.

“People know Sale more in France than they do in Manchester. I think they sold out the tickets in one hour so you can see there’s a lot of interest and it’s the big game of the weekend.”

Saint-Andre also believes the game will take on added importance for another of Sale’s Frenchmen.

All eyes will be on Sebastien Chabal when he takes to the field on Saturday - a player who has often dazzled at club level, only to be criminally underused by his country.

The charismatic number 8 - all snarling power and flailing hair - became a national idol in France during last year’s World Cup, only to find himself on the fringes of the national team since.

He joined France on their ill-fated summer tour to Australia, but only because many of France’s first choice stars were still involved in their domestic league competition, and Saint-Andre said he must grab his chance to impress on Saturday.

“He has a point to prove in France,” he said.

“Two years ago he played very well against Stade Francais and I think that won him a place in the World Cup squad.

“The Guinness Premiership isn’t on French television a lot so it’s a fantastic opportunity to show them what he can do. But he must play well for the team not play well for himself.

“He played in the tour to Australia this summer and his form in September has been good. If he can have two fantastic performances I think he can get back in the French team.”