At 48, Samuel Chinarro has agreed to open the cabinet to the memories of these five years in the first team with USAP. The former second line, launched by Paul Foussat when he was barely 19, admits that he owes a lot to the legendary Barend Britz, a tutor who showered him with kindness and attention. He will then spend his career at Castres, Brive then Gaillac before returning to his beloved Roussillon nine years ago.
If some find it difficult to abandon the softness of memories, they prefer to bite only on beautiful things. And he immediately warns, “I’m not nostalgic, although I must have a box of old shirts in the attic”. However, over a long coffee, Samuel Chinarro agrees to rewind the film of his emotions with the USAP. Without rhinestones or sequins. And the fragrances of happiness still linger. And to think that his life changed on a summer afternoon in 1989. Within easy reach of the Armel-Costa stadium in Pézilla-la-Rivière. Little “Sam”, yes “long and thin” multiply the round trips to the garden.
“I remember, my father had asked me to mow the lawn when I saw two people disembark dressed in USAP colors. No one in the house was aware of their visit.” Coat of arms in blood and gold on the shirt, it is Michel Jobe and Jean-Claude Ros, coaches of the cadets, who come forward. Without announcing. It must be said that the performances of the boy from the Têt Entente and the selection had already crossed the borders of the village. “ That year I decided to quit rugby. Too few matches have been completed. Too many fights.”
But the USAP lighthouse alternative signals do not refuse. “I was plagued by doubts. I didn’t think I had the level. USAP is another world.” However, the then central third row quickly began to scratch the lists of the France U16 and U17 selections, invited to the big world, in the midst of Giordani, Castaignède, Betsen, Dourthe, Colazzo, Magne, Pelous…
And very quickly Paul Foussat, coach of La Une, integrates him into the group. At 19. And a first entry into the field, in Aimé-Giral in place of Eric Gayraud. “Yes, it was at half-time. He deserved it despite his young age. He absorbed everything the staff asked of him. And it went very well with the oldest in the group. Physically he was out of place (1.98m) We Catalans were either dwarfs like me or stocky.”
A baptism against the Biterrois. Pretty spicy, isn’t it? “Pitchou, take care of the ball, I’ll handle the rest”, Legend Barend Britz will then throw it in a paternal tone. “ You can be serene when you start alongside the Majoral, (Marco) Lievremont, Pradal, Fourny, Delpoux… I had the chance to be picked on by benevolent and protective players and thrown by a coach who gave youngsters a chance.”recalls the podiatrist, now installed with his wife, Stéphanie, a sophrologist.
And to stifle emotions at the mention of the one who took him under his wing, Barend Britz.
“He was in the broadcast. A kind of tutor. He often took me to the fire tower, at the entrance of Perpignan, to do the stairs or bodybuilding. At 40, he had even done another season to help me flourish. He was respected on all terrains. Even the Champs, the Serrières, the tough guys of the time didn’t frequent him.”
“Majo’s Speeches Still Give Me Goosebumps”
The ascent of the Pézillanais is quite dazzling. So much so that the then student of the podiatry school was selected for the University World Championships together with Arlettaz, Auradou, Pelous, Brouzet, Ibanez… “They became world champions. But without me.” Blame it on a serious knee injury just before the competition. The kind of wounds you can’t heal with holy water.
A Du Manoir in 1994 (24th man) and a Top 20 final at the Stade de France against Stade Français (7-34) where he will not be held will adorn these five usapiste seasons (1993-1998). “It’s a special club. It generates such fervor. I still get goosebumps listening to Majo’s speeches before matches. We radiate such collective strength. And it’s even stronger when you’re from here. Stand up for identity Catalan, it’s nothing. At that time, each player represented a village. With Jacques (Dachshund), it was Pezilla. Aimé-Giral was truly an impregnable citadel. And this CGT grandstand… the opposing whores, Moscato, Soula and others weren’t deaf, believe me.”
But the threads of these years will unravel in the spring of 1998. Head to Alain Gaillard’s Castres (rather than Toulon or Pau) then Brive for two four-year cycles. “Two good experiences. Castres is the Gallic village. We lived in the countryside. It was pleasant. And then, in the group, there were many vengeful players. In Brive I had accepted the challenge. The club had dropped to Pro D2 and we go hand in hand”explains the former coach of Prades in Federal 2 (3 years), the reserve of ES Catalan (1 year), Crabos of USAP (1 year) and Reichel of Albi (1 year).
A career that will extend up to Gaillac, in Pro D2, for one last season “in one department, the Tarn, where we have always had a good time”. Up to put the crampons on the pitons at 33 years old. Without ever having won the slightest title, apart from that of the Reichels in 1992, against Grenoble. “It’s true, now that you mention it “, smiles the father of two, Léna (20), at the nursing school and Bastien (18), a student at the physiotherapy school in Girona. But above all, the great hope of Catalan rugby, international – 18 years old, after only two years of practice .” We both have many similarities. Late start of practice, medical studies… Our pleasure with my wife is to go and see him play”, continues the member of the Association of former USAPs, chaired by Philippe Amalric. Yes, when you have USAP in your heart, it’s for life.
Framing-Protrusion…
