Philippe Saint-André, Toulon’s new director of rugby, says he is relishing the challenge of working in a city where “rugby is a religion” after five years spent with Sale Sharks in Manchester.

The in-coming boss, who has been busy recruiting a string of new (British-based) players for Toulon, admitted that he decided to leave Sale after taking the club as far as he felt he could.

“I felt I could not take a further step in terms of particular structures or at the club. The Sharks are in a city that vibrates 500% for football. The chairman Brian Kennedy has given 500%, but it’s still difficult to exist. It should also be noted that in Manchester rugby league is even more important than rugby union,” said Saint-André.

But now he is heading to southeast France where sun and a love of rugby will welcome him with open arms after his British adventures with Gloucester (1998-2000) and Sale (2004-2009). Saint-Andre, 42, sees similarities between Toulon and all three clubs he has previously coached – he was at Bourgoin from 2000-2004 – and said building solid foundations and a modern infrastructure would be his starting points.

“There are similarities between Mourad Boudjellal [Toulon’s president] and Brian Kennedy. Both have succeeded in their business and now they want to succeed in their clubs. However, there are also major differences,” he told Midi Olympique.

“I lived in Manchester in northern England where rugby is a minority and I now live in south-eastern France and in a town where rugby is a religion.”

Saint-André said he would trying “to shape the team in my image” and added that he would not be a highly paid plaything for a wealthy club owner. “I do not want to be a mere pawn,” he added.

The former France star is a natural leader who garners instant respect for his achievements both as a player and a coach. Of his 68 French caps exactly half were won as captain.

He admitted that he would also be on a learning curve in Toulon after spending five seasons in Manchester. He acknowledges there are significant differences between the style of play in England and France, and also that a longer pre-season in the former allows for greater conditioning and planning.

“In France the preparation is very short and we have a young team with new players. It will not be easy, but fortunately we have Aubin Hueber to coach the forwards and Tana Umaga for the backs. They will be there on my elbow to help make the connection between the two seasons,” he said.

Saint-André said his immediate goal was “to allow us to evolve and build”, but admitted that he would live or die by results on the pitch. “I always put a huge pressure on myself in terms of results because I cannot take defeat. I have already conveyed this to my players and it was also the case in Gloucester, at Bourgoin and Sale.”

His achievements in Britain will undoubtedly stand him in good stead, and he can draw on the unique achievement of Sale winning the Guinness Premiership title (in 2006) after finishing top of the league. “I believe in work, discipline and control,” he stressed. “It is a collective effort because the goal is to give the keys to players for them to find the solutions.”

Meanwhile, Irish hooker Frankie Sheahan is set to become the second Munster player in two days to confirm a summer transfer to Top 14.

Sheahan, capped 29 times by the Grand Slam champions, held talks in Brive at the weekend and is poised to agree a one-year deal with the option of second season.

“I spent the weekend there taking in the Brive-Montauban match. There’s a load of ambition there and I’m very close to signing,” admitted the 32-year-old.

Canadian-born Sheahan would join fellow Irish players Damien Browne and Christian Short at Brive, together with England internationals Riki Flutey, Andy Goode and Steve Thompson.

On Thursday his current club colleague Timmy Ryan, 24, confirmed that he was joining Saint-André's Toulon.

The double departure is part of a general shake-up at Munster – the reigning Heineken Cup champions – although they were keen to hold on to the highly rated Ryan. In total 11 players have either been released or are retiring.