His dad, Jean-Jacques, played as a pillar in the “80s” at USC, then in Nîmes and Montpellier. His son, now 27, took over, sliding into hooker.
Obviously, when you are immersed in the world of rugby since childhood, passion quickly becomes obvious. Thomas Sauveterre, 27, a pillar of USC who arrived at the foot of the City in the off-season 2016, is one of those lines that give this sport talented players.
His father, Jean-Jacques, made the heyday of USC in the “80s”, alongside Christophe Barrière and Alain Macchion, before donning the red and green tunic of Nîmes, then that of Montpellier. A Hérault club that he will help to hoist on the steps of the elite, becoming its co-president before taking the reins of the association. “He was my first president”, Thomas smiles.
A slightly turbulent child, today’s hooker had energy to spare… and to channel. “I tried a lot of sports: tennis, judo too. I wanted to play a combat sport but my mother didn’t want me to take hits: judo is a good compromise.”
And then, rugby, so … “As I went along, the funnel tightened and rugby remained the only sport I played”, confides the young man. The opportunity, for him, to rub shoulders with rising stars, who will become stars, members of the France team: the fantastic four that are Fulgence Ouedraougo, François Trinh-Duc, Louis Picamoles or Julien Tomas. “I was a ball collector at that time, remembers Thomas. These players were examples, that’s for sure: we identified with them. “
Little focused on studies, taller and stronger than the others, the young Montpellier rugby player has had a few summons in front of school directors or heads of schools that he has known in the district of Richter: “Nothing too bad, but I was still defending my little sister, so…” Because among the Sauveterre, family is sacred. A close-knit family where we found the great-grandmother living not far from there, to eat at noon or at four o’clock, after training with friends.
Sense of play and self-sacrifice
Until the moment when the flight becomes necessary: “It was when I became hopeful that I knew I wanted a career in sport. Before, it was only the pleasure, that of playing, of finding the teammates: I did not necessarily think of making it my job . “ Due to lack of playing time in the Hérault prefecture, Thomas chose to head for the banks of the Aude. Where his father shone, where he will harden himself, stand out. His dedication, his sense of the game, and his ability to score tries – which is not necessarily the first quality of a hooker – will do the rest. So much so that Bayonne leaders will be interested in him, without giving any follow-up: the opportunity for Carcassonne supporters to take advantage of his talents for one more season.
Hunting enthusiast
Passionate about big game hunting, a hobby that allows him to decompress, to rest psychologically, Thomas Sauveterre knows that there will be one after rugby. Not tomorrow: he is only 27 years old. But any professional athlete prepares for it: “Honestly, I think when it stops, I’ll take my distance. It takes up so much space every day that I will have to do something else afterwards. I know I will miss it: but I don’t see myself continuing in training, management … “ The creation of a business, a business? No doubt… Because after the collective, the time will come for personal experience: that of another accomplishment.
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