To play the second In Extenso Super Sevens tournament this Saturday in its Marcel-Deflandre stadium, the La Rochelle club called on its former player Damien Cler, who played in the Rio Olympics with the French team, and who still plays at Layrac in Fédérale 1 at almost 41 years old.
The first stage of the In Extenso Super Sevens began last Saturday in Mont-de-Marsan, the first stage of a series of three. The second stage is the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, this Saturday, August 24, in La Rochelle. The third will be in Pau on August 31. The final will be played on February 1, 2025 at Paris-La Défense Arena, a venue that has become legendary thanks to the exploits at the Olympic Games of the French swimming team, particularly Léon Marchand.
Damien Cler, a former international rugby 7s player, had ended his career as a “seven-a-side” player at the Rio Olympics in 2016, returning to the fifteen-a-side game with his friend Vincent Inigo, to the great delight of AS Layrac. Damien has kept strong ties to La Rochelle from his time at Stade Rochelais from 2011 to 2015. He did not fail to go and greet the Espoirs du Stade Rochelais led by Romain Sazy recently when they came to Armandie to face those of SU Agen.
Excited like a kid waiting for a present
This week, during AS Layrac’s training, the 41-year-old winger appeared in great shape. And as excited as a kid waiting for a present.
On Wednesday evening, on the Pénétro pitch, he showed his physical form with accelerations, precise 20-metre passes, and a presence in support of the warm-up “small game”. His teammates teased him with pride, knowing that he was going to head to La Rochelle to join the Stade Rochelais team involved in the In Extenso Super Sevens tournament. This team ranked 6th out of 16 during the Mont-de-Marsan stage.
The La Rochelle tournament will start at 1:05 p.m. with the round of 16 and will end at 10:30 p.m. with the final. At 2:55 p.m., the first opponents of the La Rochelle team – coached among others by the former Suaviste and Mézinais Laurent Albinet – will be the “Baabaas”, the Barbarians of the sevens. With the immense success of the French rugby sevens team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which won gold, and the popular enthusiasm generated by the discipline, this tournament broadcast on television is a hit with fans of the game festival.
The “veteran”
How does Damien Cler really experience this invitation? “A gift that friends of the Stade Rochelais staff gave me ten days ago during a visit to La Rochelle where I know everyone. My friends Robert Mohr and Romain Sazy said to me: would you like to come and play with the youngsters of the 7 during the tournament?” His response was as sharp as the accelerations that he has the secret of.
At almost 41 years old, the likeable “Dada” is still hungry for rugby. Mathieu de Carli and Eric Bourdeilh, the ASL coaches, happily agreed. From Pénétro to Deflandre, let’s hope Damien Cler lives his dream to the fullest. “I experienced the Olympics with them”, speaking of the French rugby 7s team, Olympic champions, “I was on the box (the podium) with them”, exclaims the “veteran” nickname heard at Pénétro on Wednesday evening. Devouring spaces, he should have a great time in the middle of the young La Rochelle guard this Saturday. And rediscover those sensations he loves so much.
