On the eve of the neo-Aquitaine derby between Stade Rochelais and UBB, Rugby Magazine is interested in the training of the club’s future stars in the caravel. They are between 18 and 21 years old and under the leadership of their coach Romain Sazy, they are hot on the heels of Toulouse at the top of their championship.
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A quick trip through the refectory for breakfast, it’s barely eight in the morning, and the young Crabos and Espoirs from Stade Rochelais are already geared up on the synthetic pitch at Macif Parc, the performance center for the Jaunes et Noirs .
At a time when their classmates sometimes drag their feet to go to class, they finish the warm-up before the first tackles, which are already very energetic.
They are privileged and they know it. Even in the morning, they never shy away from the task.
Antoine Praud
Sports training manager.
“Their goal is to become professional, they give themselves the means. We also in the staff, with them, we have to be 100% all the time.” jokingly notes Antoine Praud, sports manager of the training.
In France, until the age of 21, players in training centers must follow a school curriculum. For almost ten years, Stade Rochelais has had a private school housed on its premises. “We support the players throughout their journey, some prepare for CAPs, others for engineering diplomas, it’s very varied. They have tutors to help them get organized. We can thus individually adapt school time to the schedules and training requirements.” explains Cecile Espagnach, education manager for training at Stade Rochelais.
That day, Lucas Andjissaramatchi, the U21 captain, had to take a mock exam as part of his first year of physiotherapy studies. He arrived from Massy in the off-season. He chose La Rochelle for the complementary rugby studies.
It was the only Top 14 club to offer me this follow-up.
Lucas Andjisseramatchi
Captain of the U21s
“I take classes here remotely and on Wednesdays when the others are off, I go back and forth to Paris to take certain courses and immerse myself a little in student life.” explains the man we see as one of the future great French third lines.
Playing in the U20s for one of the big teams in the Top 14 is the last step towards professionalism, but it will be too high for the majority of the residents of Stade Rochelais.
“It’s a very complicated age group, a race against time. For each year, two of them join the Stade Rocelais first team and two leave for another club. For the others, they will continue their career in the region in Federal insists Romain Sazy, former emblematic captain of the Maritimes, now coach of the Espoirs.
Romain Sazy, coach of the Stade Rochelais Espoirs, interviewed by Patricia Perin. • © Patricia Perin
The rugby world has evolved enormously in recent years. “Here, we have young people who already have agents under the age of 18, it’s crazy. My role is also to make them good men. Respectful. Whether they break through or they don’t break through.” continues Romain Sazy.
A framework, pleasure, intelligence, work and rigor, perhaps the recipe for success to one day join the ranks of professional rugby.
Rugby Magazine, every Saturday on France3 Nouvelle Aquitaine.
