Through Rugby editorial staff
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There is as much modesty and humility in his voice as there is determination in his actions: “When you play less, you doubt, it’s difficult. You shut up and you continue to work ”. The young career of Thibault De Sousa (24 years old), pillar at Rugby Club Aubenas-Vals (RCAV), was not easy.
Born in Toulouse, it is at L’Isle-Jourdain (Gers) that he starts on rugby at 13 years old. An atypical young man, funny and endearing, as his first trainer remembers on the banks of the Sava, Camille Cezerac : “When young, it was difficult to imagine Thibault reaching this level. He liked to have fun, joke, it was a real poet. »
After two years with Sang et Or, now the neighbor columérin points the tip of his nose. And it is at Colomiers, in Cadets Alamercery, that everything will accelerate for him. Very efficient in a double confrontation against Castres, the Tarn club was quick to take an interest in Thibault’s profile, both strong in closed scrum and dynamic with the ball in hand. Its performance in Midi-Pyrenees selection then confirmed its full potential. The interest of Castres Olympique has become more intense and the person in charge of the Tarn Cadets, Laurent Busolin, enlisted him.
“Wilfrid Hounkpatin brought me a lot”
Freshly landed in the Tarn, Thibault made his classes there, in Crabos, then in Espoirs. In total, he spent six seasons at Castres Olympique, the club that saw him grow, evolve, and shape himself to meet the expectations of the high level. One player has contributed enormously to his development, Wilfrid Hounkpatin (30 years old; 1 selection with the XV of France): “The last two years, Wilfrid has given me a lot. We often talked and I took his example, he was quite close to young people ”.
It was also during his Castres period that Thibault De Sousa had his first selection with the Portugal U20. The Lusitanian origins of his father opened the doors to this selection of Loupes (Os Lobos), with which he won the U20 European Championship in 2018, played in Romania.
Unfortunately for him, the young right pillar has had a difficult last year in the CO ranks. In lack of playing time, doubts arose and desires elsewhere arose. Blagnac, resident of National (3e national level), then thought of him to strengthen his pack: “The coach of the forwards of Blagnac (Eric Escribano, Editor’s note) was interested in my profile, so it was done quite simply through my agent. “
Immaturity
It is therefore in the Toulouse suburbs, near Blagnac that Thibault De Sousa is bouncing back. After a frustrating first season, only three games in the first team, the second did not seem to start under the best auspices either: “It started badly, because the club wanted to lend me. Consider a loan at Lombez-Samatan or to Castanet was hard to take as I barely started the physical preparation on my side. “
For the first time, the young man of 22 years has rubbed shoulders with a Seniors group, with all the requirements that this implies: “ I lacked a little maturity and training at this level, especially defensively and technically. “
Summary of the races, it hung on and was finally retained by the Caouecs de Blagnac. He checked his name on 16 National game sheets last season. Fully integrated into the rotation at the right pillar position, he had a promising exercise.
Garbage collector for Toulouse Métropole
Despite successful performances, Thibault De Sousa, like a large part of the Blagnac workforce, is not under professional contract in Haute-Garonne. This is one of the specificities of the club, apart from a few players, the workforce is exclusively multi-active. A situation not necessarily ideal, which Thibault has come to terms with, without batting an eyelid: “During my second year at Blagnac, I started working in different bars as a bartender to ensure additional income”.
The Covid-19 having been there, it was impossible for him to continue this activity. He continues: “Some time later, I got a job asgarbage collector near Toulouse Metropolis (Urban community). The schedules of the job matched the training, I decided to continue for nine months. »A fascinating activity, in addition to training and competition on weekends with Blagnac, in National.
After two years with the Caouecs, Thibault does not see his contract renewed. One goal for him, to find playing time in Pro D2 or in National. If his performances did not necessarily convince on the side of Ernest-Argelès, they seduced more than 400 kilometers away.
“Thibault is a guy who goes fast, strong in contact and who allows us to move forward”
It’s in Ardeche that his performances found an echo. ManagerAubenas, Ousmane Toure had placed many hopes in Thibault De Sousa. Faced with problems in closed scrum last year, the club started looking for a young profile on the right, with a significant margin of progress and the ability to withstand the shock in National.
Once appointed at the head of the staff for the following season, the Albenassian technician attended the double confrontation between Blagnac and Aubenas in March 2021, in which Thibault participated, on the Blagnac side: “We were looking for young players that we could help to progress. Thibault was rather efficient, especially in the first leg. I knew his agent well, we had worked together before, and that’s how we approached him. “
A godsend for the solid right-hander (1m82, 130kg): “The club offered me a very good contract with advantageous conditions. I wanted to evolve in National and benefit from a professional contract, what Aubenas offered me ”.
After several years of frustration and a few months of hardship traveling the roads of Haute-Garonne to pick up the trash, Thibault finally has the opportunity to realize one of his dreams: to be a professional rugby player. Aware of his qualities and his luck, he rushes in and initials a contract of two years in favor of RCAV. An enthusiasm shared by his manager: “In addition to his contribution to the melee, he is explosive. He is a guy who goes fast, who is strong in contact and who allows us to move forward. “
“It’s great here, you have the mountains, the hunting, the fishing”
Very attached to traditions, Thibault could not ask for better than such an atmosphere to practice his passion. Seduced by the sports project carried by Ousmane Touré, the 24-year-old player was just as much by theArdèche environment : “Here, it’s a village, it’s great. You have the mountains, the hunting, the fishing. It would be more difficult for me to live in a big city rather than in Aubenas ”.
Values and a terroir that the club tries to preserve: “It is defense and scrum above all here. But beware ! We also know how to play. This is precisely what Ousmane has been trying to instill since his arrival. “
An environment that seems to fit him like a glove. Undisputed holder to the right of the Ardèche scrum, he made a great start to the championship, present on all the match sheets: “I am very satisfied with my start to the season. But I remain relatively young in my position and can improve on many aspects of the game. “An opinion shared by his manager:” He must progress in the mental dimension. He tends to retain the negative more than the positive. “
A cloakroom facilitator
Efficient on the pitch, the imposing bearded man is also on the outside. And this is one of the aspects that also pushed the leaders Yellow and blue to look at his profile. The human aspect occupies a preponderant place in the club’s recruitment policy: “We want to have a good time outside of rugby and develop this spirit of camaraderie. The human aspect is essential, especially when you play the posture. Precisely, Thibault is a sacred life leader, it does us a lot of good. »Assures Ousmane Touré.
A communicative joie de vivre that benefits the entire locker room, as one of its closest partners, the hooker, confirms to us. Paul Sauzaret (4 Top 14 matches with Castres Olympique, Editor’s note). Precisely, the two men met in Castres, a few years ago. Friends in life, they separated to better meet this season in Aubenas: “Outside the field, we are very often together. We are always chamber partners on the go. Beyond rugby, Thibault is a well living. He makes the group laugh ”. These human and rugby qualities and these values even push the main interested party to dream bigger.
“Playing the 2023 World Cup is a dream”
Holder in a National club, efficient and well in his head, Thibault De Sousa puts all the assets on his side to hope one day, touch the Grail: participate in the 2023 World Cup in France with the Portugal.
On March 6, 2021, he had his first selection against Georgia with “ The Wolves »The nickname of the Portuguese selection. A first selection disputed against Beka Gigashvili, the left pillar of Toulon, a real rock dreaded in Top 14. Thibault says: “The week before the meeting, I called Alexandre Castola, then scrum coach at Blagnac. He gave me a lot: ‘Gigashvili or not, you have the level. You stay in what you know how to do, your melee construction, you do not look at it ‘. “
Despite a defeat (29-16) against the Lelos, this first cape will remain etched forever in his memory. Thibault is now living in a taste for coming back, who feels ready to proudly carry over the colors of his adopted country: “I joined forces with Portugal to live an experience. Playing the 2023 World Cup is a dream, especially in France. Right now there are two good pillars in front of me, Anthony Alves (Mont-de-Marsan, Editor’s note) and Diogo Ferreira (Dax, Editor’s note). I am on the right track. “
Next goal for Thibault, the 6 Nations Tournament B, early 2022. Before transforming, why not, his dream into a sweet reality.
Thomas SAINT-ANTONIN
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